Ex-Newcastle United star breaks silence on ‘damaging’ cocaine addiction – ‘I hurt a lot of people’

Former Newcastle United and Watford defender Daryl Janmaat has spoken candidly about the toll a cocaine addiction took on his life after stepping away from professional football.

The 36-year-old, who earned 34 caps for the Netherlands during his career, enjoyed spells in the Premier League with Newcastle and Watford, as well as several years playing in his homeland. After two seasons on Tyneside, he joined Watford in 2016 before returning to the Netherlands in 2020 with ADO Den Haag, now competing in the country’s second tier.

Janmaat retired in 2022 following a knee injury and later moved into a technical manager role at ADO Den Haag. However, he has now revealed in an interview with Dutch outlet AD that the end of his playing days marked the beginning of a difficult chapter.

Explaining that he does not wish to go into every detail for the sake of his three children, Janmaat admitted his addiction “caused a lot of damage.” He described how losing the structure and routine that had defined his life as a footballer left him struggling to adjust. Without the rhythm of training sessions and matchdays, he found himself feeling lost — particularly as he felt out of place in his new off-field role.

He acknowledged that the addiction developed gradually and led him to deceive those closest to him, something he deeply regrets. According to Janmaat, the real issues only surfaced after retirement, when the daily focus and direction provided by professional sport disappeared.

The former defender also confirmed that his personal life was affected. Although he remains officially married, he and his partner are no longer together. He admitted the addiction worsened an already strained relationship, though he says they are now on better terms.

Since then, Janmaat has worked to rebuild his life. He now runs his own fitness business, High Power Gym, in Scheveningen and credits therapy and counselling with helping him change course. Reflecting on his lowest moments, he described addiction as a relentless struggle that can leave a person feeling completely overwhelmed, admitting he let many people down during that period.

Now in a more stable place, Janmaat says he has taken a different and healthier direction, determined to move forward after what he calls a deeply painful chapter in his life.