The astronomical wages paid to footballers at the top of the game are no secret.
And thanks to new media such as Instagram and Snapchat, fans now get a closer look than ever before at the lavish lifestyles those bulging pay packets afford.
Which brings us to former Dutch international Johnny Heitinga, who has enjoyed a good stint at the top. After breaking through at Ajax in 2001, he had spells at Atletico Madrid, Fulham and the Bundesliga’s Hertha Berlin, as well as his five years at Everton.
In recent years the footballer has been happy to show off some of the trappings of his gilded existence on social media.
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However the 33-year-old ended his professional career at the end of last season after making only two appearances from the bench for Ajax and has now joined the club’s coaching staff.
Having now retired, it seems the good times have ended, and the Heitingas are struggling to adjust to life back amongst the normal.
In an interview with 1limburg the former international explained that he and his wife, Charlotte-Sophie, are really missing the luxury travels they used to enjoy.
He said:
“When I was still playing football we had a lot more money coming in. Our expenditures were likewise. Now we are trying to adjust.
“In the past, we sometimes chartered a private jet, but we don’t do that now. On holidays we do still rent a fancy villa, but you get different categories of ‘fancy’.”
His wife Charlotte-Sophie added: “We are trying to get used to it. Sometimes it is difficult”.
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According to The Mirror, Heitinga revealed that the couple used to have a stylist who picked out what they’d wear. These days the pair are dealing with the unusual cruelty of having to choose their own attire each day.
That said, the ex-footballer did say the couple were now having ‘fun’ deciding what they should wear each day. No doubt through gritted teeth.
There are first word problems, then there are ex-footballer problems.
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