Kees Vos’s personal message on Kevin Strootman’s retirement

“My bond with Kevin is extraordinary. Kevin is a player that you want in your team. A winner, a team player, someone you want and need by your side. So do I. I’m proud to be part of his team and I’m happy he is part of mine.

The respect and love for him in the world of football showed when he announced his retirement from the game. But apart from being a great teammate, he is the perfect friend. Attentive, interested, loyal, funny, smart, trustworthy, unconditional, passionate - Kevin is the friend everyone would like to have. I’m lucky to have met him through football, but I am sure if we had been classmates, neighbours or colleagues in another life, it would have been the same. We share the same values and we share the same DNA.

Life has not always treated him fairly and Kevin went through a lot of hardship and badlands in the past few years. But the way he has handled and conducted himself contains a promise that he will continue to enjoy life, through highs and lows, by just being himself. The next chapter in life for Kevin is not written yet but it will be a good one for sure. Whatever ride it will be, I’m going to be on it.”

A rich career

From 2008, Kevin played for several Dutch clubs, including PSV Eindhoven, before he moved abroad to join AS Roma, where he stayed from 2013 to 2018. He also had stints at Marseille and Cagliari. In Rome, he quickly earned the nickname La Lavatrice (the washing machine) for his ability to do the 'dirty work' in midfield, constantly recovering the team's lost possession and putting the ball back into play. 

He spent the last two seasons of his career at Genoa, helping the Rossoblu return to Serie A in 2022-23. His contract with Genoa expired in June 2024.

Kevin played 46 matches for the Netherlands, scoring three goals.