Kirsten van de Westeringh: “I am not only Kirsten the footballer”
This interview we had with Kirsten van de Westeringh in March 2026 looks beyond the image of the footballer. It captures a player still chasing her Oranjeleeuwinnen (Dutch women’s national football team) dream, but also someone learning to build a life around football, not only inside.
Kirsten van de Westeringh‘s Dream
For Kirsten van de Westeringh, football has always been tied to ambition. Her dream is clear: to become an Oranjeleeuwinnen player. But the road towards that dream has been far from simple. After tearing her ACL for the second time, she found herself in one of the most difficult weeks of her career. But when visiting an Oranjeleeuwinnen game, it also turned into a moment that sharpened her purpose.
”I was heartbroken that week because I had torn my ACL. But when I saw the full stadium, the atmosphere and everything around it, I thought, that is what I want to achieve. And I will never get there if I give up now.”
More Than an Injury
What stand out in the interview is how openly Kirsten speaks about being seen through football alone. At birthdays, conversations often return to her career, her knee or her recovery. She understands why, but it can also feel limiting.
Very often, people see me as Kirsten the footballer.
There is more to her than that. She describes herself as cheerful, energetic and driven, someone who goes after what she wants. But she also wishes people would sometimes ask different questions. About Rotterdam, the life away from the pitch or whether things ever feel lonely. That honesty gives the interview depth. Kirsten is not rejecting football. She is simply asking to be seen as a human, not only a footballer.
Finding Space Beyond Football
During her injury, Kirsten realised that focusing only on rehab was not helping her mentally. At Zeist, she gave everything to her recovery. Outside of that, she allowed herself to explore other interests.
That opened the door to media. From a young age, she had already been interested in filming and storytelling. During her injury, she started her own podcast, was followed for a documentary and began working at ESPN as a field producer.
”My injury also brought positive things. If I had never been injured, I probably would not have had the chance to explore that world during my career.”
For Kirsten, these experiences did not take her away from football. They helped her understand the game from another side. Behind the camera, she saw how much preparation goes into a broadcast: from producers and presenters to commentators and crews arriving hours before kick-off.
Pressure, Balance and Enjoyment
One of Kirsten’s strongest messages is that doing something outside football does not mean a player is less focused. In fact, she believes the opposite can be true. Having more than one passion can create balance, perspective and even better performances.
”I actually think you can perform better when football is not the only thing in your life.”
That idea also connects to the advice she would give to young girls. Enjoy the game. Do not put too much pressure on yourself. That pressure is one of the harder sides of elite sport. Kirsten knows what it feels like to be seen as a big talent, then suddenly feel replaceable because of injury. It is a side of football that often stays hidden behind the performance.
For Kirsten, that lesson came through experience. After returning from her injury, she felt the need to prove everything at once. Now, she tries to step onto the pitch with more calm.
Thinking Further Than the Pitch
What makes Kirsten’s story powerful is not just the comeback. It is the way she is already thinking about life beyond football while still fully chasing her career. She wants to show that players can explore different passions without losing their ambition.
”I would love it if, ten years from now, many more players were doing that. Not just after football, but during it as well.”
Kirsten van de Westeringh’s story is still being written. The Oranjeleeuwinnen dream remains alive, but so does a bigger message: football can be the centre of your life without being the only thing that defines you.
Read the full interview with Kirsten van de Westeringh in the latest Life After Football e-zine.
Ready for more?
If you want to read more articles on interviews with footballers, check out our interview with Kika van Es.
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