In a surprising career pivot, former Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart stepped into the world of professional darts shortly after hanging up his football boots.
A New Challenge After Football
Rafael van der Vaart concluded an illustrious 18-year football career in 2018 with Danish side Esbjerg. The attacking midfielder, famed for his spells at Ajax, Hamburg, Real Madrid, and Spurs, as well as earning 109 caps for his country, soon sought a new sporting challenge. A year later, in May 2019, he made his debut in professional darts at the BDO Denmark Open, held in Esbjerg.
His transition was not entirely unexpected. Van der Vaart was a well-known enthusiast of the sport during his playing days, often inspired by Dutch darting legends like Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld. He was even photographed with darts professional Vincent van der Voort at the PDC World Championships back in 2011, during his time with Tottenham.
Mixed Results on the Darts Stage
The former football star enjoyed a dream start in his first professional tournament. He secured a 4-2 victory over local player Thomas Anderson in his opening match. However, his run was cut short in the next round. He suffered a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to Mogens 'Turbo' Christensen, a Danish international and former semi-finalist of the event, managing an average of just 54.
His darting endeavours that weekend did not improve. At the concurrent Denmark Masters tournament, van der Vaart was again whitewashed 4-0, this time by former WDF World Cup runner-up Per Laursen. The Denmark Open, while featuring many Scandinavian players, has a prestigious history, having been won by greats of the sport including Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow, Raymond van Barneveld, and Gary Anderson.
A Celebrity Darts Enthusiast
Prior to his official professional outing, the Dutchman had tested the waters in exhibition events. In early 2019, he partnered with Michael van Gerwen at the Celebrity Darts Championship, where the duo reached the final before being beaten.
Following his retirement from football, van der Vaart remained in Esbjerg, where his partner, Dutch handball international Estavana Polman, played for the local team. His brief foray into darts added a unique chapter to the career of a player who was part of the Netherlands squad that reached the 2010 World Cup final and scored 24 goals in 63 Premier League appearances for Tottenham.
