The former Everton player’s off-field antics leading to a furious bust-up with Toffees boss David Moyes during his time on Merseyside
Royston Drenthe was on loan at Everton during the 2011-12 season(Image: 2012 Getty Images)
Royston Drenthe, the former Everton loanee, is unlikely to be remembered fondly by the club’s fans. His time at Everton, during David Moyes‘ initial tenure as manager, was marked by controversy and conflict.
Drenthe, who joined from Real Madrid for the 2011/12 season, had a tumultuous relationship with Moyes and was even dubbed the “tenant from hell” by ex-Liverpool winger Ryan Babel.
Now 38, Drenthe’s time on Merseyside was marred by off-field distractions, including infamous pool parties at his Liverpool home, owned by Babel. The winger was also notorious for his poor punctuality, which led to a fiery confrontation with Moyes that effectively ended his Everton career.
The incident occurred when Drenthe arrived late for a team meeting before Everton’s FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool in April 2012, reports the Liverpool Echo.
“I was waiting outside the room,” Drenthe recounted to Four Four Two. “Whereas I probably should have just walked in quietly and taken a seat. When I went in afterwards, Moyes told me to f*** off.
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“I should have accepted it, but I said, ‘What do you mean, f*** off, bro? You f*** off.’ And then I left for Holland and didn’t come back.”
Drenthe’s time at Everton was further tarnished by outrageous claims that he had built a nightclub inside the house he was renting from Babel.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Babel said: “The time has come to pass it on to its next lucky owner. This house holds so many memories… it was the first place I moved into after leaving my parents’ home, full of excitement, mistakes, and lessons.
David Moyes was unhappy with the ex-Everton star(Image: Getty Images)
“When I left Liverpool, I rented it out to a few tenants… one of them being my good old Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe. Let’s just say he gave “tenant from hell” a new meaning.”
Drenthe’s love for a good time even led to an infamous claim that he tried to use the hot tub at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground in the early hours for his own enjoyment.
Former Blues goalkeeper Tim Howard explained how Drenthe didn’t meet the criteria of an Everton player back in 2021.
“We’re Everton, rolled sleeves up, worker bees,” he said. “In comes Royston in Rolls-Royces to training, bowls in with his shoes untied, he has to run the perimeter of the training ground because he’s always late, his eyes were half open… you were just at Real Madrid, what are you doing here? This is weird.
Ryan Babel has admitted that Royston Drenthe built a nightclub in his Liverpool home.(Image: 2024 Getty Images)
“I guess he’d never heard of CCTV and he ended up coming to the training ground in the middle of the night with friends, and they’re in the hot tub… you’re just thinking: ‘You’re at the wrong club here mate'”.
Drenthe bid farewell to Everton in March 2012, returning to Real Madrid after playing 21 times at Goodison Park. The Dutch footballer went on to play for a dozen more clubs throughout his career, but failed to establish a long-term tenure with any of them.
In a candid chat with Four Four Two, a more mature Drenthe conceded that his career trajectory might have been different had he shown more commitment under Moyes. He admitted: “If I’d adapted more to Moyes I think I’d have reaped the benefits, as initially I did play a lot under him.”
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