Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Van der Meyde’s Liverpool Warning: “Don’t Ruin Your Career”
In August 2011, shortly after arriving on Merseyside, Royston Drenthe, the former Real Madrid Dutch winger, received a phone call. He was about to begin a season-long loan at Everton, a period anticipated to be eventful, and few knew this better than the individual contacting him.
A Compatriot’s Stark Advice
‘This is Andy van der Meyde,’ announced Drenthe’s fellow Dutchman, a former Everton player himself. Van der Meyde, who departed Goodison Park two years prior after a controversial four-year spell marked by limited appearances, had obtained Drenthe’s number from Johnny Heitinga.
‘Royston,’ Van der Meyde continued, ‘I hear you’re heading to Everton. Boy, I urge you, reconsider. Liverpool presents too many temptations for individuals like us. Before you realize it, you’ll be drawn into the nightclub scene. Be cautious; don’t jeopardize your career.’
Nightclubs and “Temptations”
‘Promise me you’ll steer clear of Newz Bar,’ Van der Meyde cautioned. ‘Bacardi flows freely there, and cocaine is allegedly abundant. And the women, Royston…those English women with their short skirts.’
While perhaps not a comprehensive assessment of life in Liverpool, this advice succinctly captured Van der Meyde’s own unfortunate experience in L4 during his time playing Premier League football for Everton.
Turbulent Everton Tenure
Andy van der Meyde’s arrival at Everton, a club fresh off a fourth-place Premier League finish, aimed to inject dynamism and quality into David Moyes’ midfield. However, his four seasons at Goodison Park were largely unproductive. Plagued by injuries and a fast-paced lifestyle, the attacker only managed 20 league games, a disappointing return considering his reported £30,000 weekly wage.
Ex-Everton star Andy van der Meyde challenges Liverpool’s Pepe Reina in the FA Cup in 2009
Van der Meyde in possession for the Netherlands during a Euro 2004 qualifier against Moldova. He represented his nation 17 times between 2002 and 2004, scoring once
Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez and Everton’s David Moyes observe as Van der Meyde is substituted at Anfield after a red card in March 2006
Costly Acquisition
Everton’s £2 million acquisition of Van der Meyde from Inter Milan initially seemed like shrewd business, particularly given Inter had invested almost £5 million to secure him from Ajax, his boyhood club where he played alongside future stars such as Wesley Sneijder and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ultimately, Van der Meyde’s Everton stint proved remarkably expensive. By the end of his time, he had effectively cost the club approximately £312,000 per appearance – considerably less than the 90,000 euros per minute he once quipped, but still an astonishing figure.
A Life of Excess and Regret
Much of the 45-year-old Dutchman’s life has been extraordinary, including his extravagant spending habits. He estimates having wasted around 11 million euros on ‘cars, clothes, jewellery, all that crazy stuff’ throughout his career, a sum that barely scratches the surface of his story.
An example of his unconventional lifestyle is his reasoning for declining a potential transfer to Didier Deschamps’ Monaco.
Zebras over Monaco Move
‘The financial terms were attractive,’ Van der Meyde recalled. ‘Tax-free earnings. They were a strong team, too. A tempting offer. But relocating was impossible. Monte Carlo is full of apartments. We wouldn’t have had space for the zebras.’
The zebras, along with turtles, horses, parrots, and even a camel, belonged to his former wife, Diana Grifhorst, an exotic animal enthusiast and mother to two of his five daughters, Isabella and Purple.
However, even accommodating exotic animals could not make Van der Meyde’s time in Liverpool successful.
Injury and Off-Field Issues
From the beginning, misfortune seemed to follow the Dutch footballer. A groin injury postponed his Everton debut by two months, and subsequently, a thigh issue sidelined him again after only five games. It was at this juncture that his difficulties truly began.
Van der Meyde’s struggles at club level hampered his aspirations to add to his Netherlands caps
Andy Van der Meyde with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a former teammate at Ajax, alongside Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart
Seeking Solace in Nightlife
‘I lacked purpose and couldn’t engage in any activity,’ Van der Meyde confessed in a prior interview, aiming to reconnect with Everton supporters. ‘I would attend training, receive ice treatment for my leg, and then return home. Consequently, I decided to go out and enjoy myself.’
And enjoy himself he did. He acquired a Ferrari and became a regular at the now-closed Newz Bar, a popular venue frequented by footballers, celebrities, and models. His inaugural visit remains vivid in his memory.
‘After several hours of consuming alcohol, I drove to the closest strip club,’ he recounted in his candid 2012 autobiography. ‘Getting intoxicated in a Liverpool strip club was unwise. But I had a strong desire for female nudity.’
Personal Turmoil and Downward Spiral
It was there that Van der Meyde encountered Lisa, a stripper with whom he initiated an affair and became ‘addicted.’ However, when the Dutchman informed his wife of his need for solitary hotel stays to recover from injuries, she grew suspicious and hired a private investigator. The ensuing fallout led to the dissolution of his marriage.
‘I informed my ex-wife that I wished to stay in a hotel as I was injured and required rest,’ Van Der Meyde explained. ‘But that was untrue; I was cheating on her.’
‘A private detective obtained videos and photographs of me and my new girlfriend. My wife then called and inquired: “How’s your new girlfriend?”‘
‘I continued to deny it at that point.’
Van der Meyde, now a Dutch TV pundit, pictured at an Ajax vs. FC Twente match in 2015
Van der Meyde celebrating a Champions League goal for Inter Milan at Highbury in 2003. His time at San Siro was largely disappointing
Further Complications
This episode marked the beginning of a rapid decline. A tumultuous relationship with Lisa fueled increased drinking. The couple had a daughter, Dolce, who was born with a serious bowel ailment and spent months in Alder Hey children’s hospital. Van der Meyde was hospitalized himself with breathing difficulties after claiming his drink was spiked and developed an addiction to prescription sleeping pills, which he resorted to stealing from the club doctor’s office.
Professional Setbacks on the Pitch
Predictably, Van der Meyde’s personal troubles began to impact his professional life.
His first Merseyside derby appearance ended in disgrace. As a substitute, he was sent off after just five minutes for elbowing Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso. He missed training sessions or arrived late, prompting Moyes to suspend him. His relationships with teammates, including club captain Phil Neville, became strained.
Clash with Neville
‘He was Moyes’ favorite, so I targeted him,’ Van der Meyde admitted. ‘I believe he reported everything to the manager, which is why he was captain – he was an informant.’
Neville, for his part, seemed unapologetic.
‘Andy was a likeable guy, but he lacked the necessary professionalism for success,’ Neville later commented.
Even Van der Meyde’s most positive contribution for Everton was tainted with controversy. Four months before his departure, his cross set up Dan Gosling’s extra-time winner in an FA Cup replay at Goodison Park.
However, live television coverage inexplicably cut to commercials at the pivotal moment, and viewers missed seeing the goal live.
Van der Meyde at a film premiere in Amsterdam. He considered Phil Neville an “informant” to Moyes.
Missed Opportunities and Regrets
Van der Meyde’s crucial assist in that victory ensured lasting positive memories among Everton fans. However, the incident also seemed to encapsulate the career of a player whose undeniable talent was frequently overshadowed by injuries, misfortune, and personal chaos.
Post-Everton Struggles and Redemption
Van der Meyde played one final game for Everton before his contract expired that summer. Subsequently, he found himself grappling with his inner demons. His separation from Lisa was final, his former wife and children had returned to Italy, and his phone remained silent. Six years after Roberto Mancini, his former Inter boss, had hailed him as ‘the best in your position in the world,’ his career was at a critical juncture.
‘I still believed that once my contract ended, another club would come calling,’ Van der Meyde recounted.
‘But no offers materialized. If you are not playing, you become irrelevant. Unless a manager truly believes in you, it’s over. It was foolish of me to waste it like that.’
Descent into Drug Use
Reluctant to abandon his indulgent lifestyle in Liverpool, Van der Meyde moved in with a friend and, for the first time, experimented with drugs. He quickly realized the path he was on could cost him more than just his career.
‘I consumed cocaine and alcohol, partying seven days a week,’ he admitted. ‘I couldn’t concentrate on football or anything else. Partying became my sole focus.’
‘Liverpool is perilous if you lack self-control. I understood Liverpool would destroy me. I needed to leave.’
“I drank to escape reality,” Van der Meyde says, pictured before a 2004 friendly for the Netherlands. “Other players can have a drink, but I drank to forget.”
Return to Netherlands and Newfound Stability
Van der Meyde returned to the Netherlands, where his friendship with PSV Eindhoven manager Fred Rutten secured him a trial. Hopelessly out of shape, the trial was ultimately unsuccessful.
‘I was significantly overweight,’ Van der Meyde recalled. ‘They mistook me for someone else—like two Andys!’
As former teammates can confirm, Van der Meyde’s characteristic humor, particularly directed at himself, was always among his most endearing qualities. Yet, beneath the humor, there was underlying sadness.
‘I drank to distance myself from reality,’ he explained. ‘Other players can socialize and drink moderately, but I drank to forget. That’s where my problem lay.’
‘I need my family around me. My move to Inter was driven by Ajax’s desire to sell me, not my personal wish to leave.’
‘I was unhappy in Italy for football-related reasons and because the environment didn’t suit me. In Liverpool, my off-field unhappiness stemmed from my marriage breakdown. That was the core issue.’
‘Having a child with Lisa after a brief relationship was driven by a desire to rebuild that family unit. That is what I need for stability.’
Finding Love and a Positive Future
Fortunately, Van der Meyde has now attained that stability. While his return to the Netherlands did not lead to professional football employment, it led to a chance encounter with Melissa Schaufeli, a hairdresser with whom he now has two daughters, Lily Fay and Roxy.
‘I initially found her arrogant at my local pub, yet also captivating,’ Van der Meyde recounted. ‘We exchanged numbers, and after three days of BlackBerry messaging, she invited me for dinner.’
‘We conversed, dined, and from that point, our future together seemed clear. It was intuitive; we both knew we were destined to stay together.’
The couple moved in together within three months and welcomed their first child a year later. They went on to star in a popular Dutch reality TV show, Andy and Melissa, and regularly feature together on Van der Meyde’s successful YouTube channel.
Regarding Liverpool, should Van der Meyde revisit, he’ll find Newz Bar is no longer operational. It has been replaced, perhaps ironically, by a Hooters restaurant.