Boudewijn Zenden grateful for the impact that judo has had on his football career

Former Dutch international Boudewijn Zenden (43) was a former judoka. He was raised with judo by his father, a former judo commentator for Dutch Television. "Bolo" Zenden focused on Football, a good choice as he became professional player for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Chelsea and Liverpool among other clubs and the winger played in the semi-final of the FIFA World Cup in 1998 among 54 international matches for the Dutch team.

Zenden shares his experiences with JudoInside in judo and his fun he had experimenting some judo on some of the Barcelona players.

Do you still keep on touch with modern judo?

“I only watch judo when it is on TV and that isn't too often in The Netherlands. But I do watch it during the Olympic Games.”

Did you know JudoInside?

“Frankly speaking I didn’t know the site as I hardly read about it either.”

Some of the football players like David Beckham did judo. Have you been in contact with some of them about judo?

“To be honest I don't know any other football players who practiced judo into their twenties. I hear sometimes that they have done it for a year or two and then fully focused on football. I practiced judo from age 4 until 17 and participated in competitions.”

Bolo Zenden may be known for his goal-scoring prowess on the left-wing, but not many know that he is an adept judoka.

The former Chelsea and Barcelona man grew up with a judo-loving family, which stemmed from his father who was a professional in the sport. In fact, Zenden’s father is still involved in the sport today despite his old age.

He added: “My father was talented in the sport – a knee injury forced him to retire early, but he teamed up with the Dutch world and Olympic champion Anton Geesink to promote a judo programme around the world.

“He was a judo commentator for Dutch TV too, and opened a sports school at home.

Did you ever advice in football to integrate judo into their development, so football players can take more risk in their attacks and dribbles?

“Yes, I do think it is important to practice many different sports to develop kids completely before they chose one sport. Judo is a very complete sport so ideal to combine with other sports.”

Do you know any Dutch judoka in person?

“I have met The Van der Geest family on a few occasions. For rest I have no contact with the world of Judo”

 What is your current focus in life Boudewijn?

“At the moment I am full time assistant manager at PSV Eindhoven. We also have a family business which holds a Health Club and a Hotel.”

You’ve been living in Spain, The UK and France, are you back in Maastricht?

“After been living abroad for 17 years I am now settled in the Netherlands. I have two young boys and they also do Judo and all kind of other sports.”

Same like you in the past

“As a kid, I only had to walk downstairs to enter the school, and I would automatically join the judo classes taught there. It was set up as a family business and remains today. My dad is 80 now but he’s still involved.”

Despite causing some harm to one of his former midfield partners, Zenden is forever grateful for the impact that judo has had on his football career.

“Overall, though, judo has given me a lot. It improved me as a footballer – it’s one-on-one, just like you can be on a pitch.

“You learn to keep your balance, use powers wisely and break your fall. I never sustained any injuries by falling awkwardly on a pitch.”

Zenden told British magazine FourFourTwo about the influence of judo on his career - and how it injured one of Barcelona’s all-time great midfielders!

“It went a bit wrong once at Barcelona,” Zenden revealed in the April issue of FourFourTwo, out now.

Yet his judo antics went one step too far during his playing days whilst challenging ex-Barcelona teammate Xavi to some moves when the pair were playing together in Spain.

“I had a little judo challenge with Xavi, who was leaning with one hand on a bed. The bed had wheels, though, which made him slip and he dislocated a shoulder. He was out for a few weeks!”

Read the full interview with Bolo Zenden is published in the April 2020 issue of FourFourTwo magazine.