From the Pitch to the Traps

A former football star who once played alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy at Manchester United has traded in his football boots for rat-catching gear. Meindert Postma, 45, enjoyed a successful career in Holland's Eredivisie, playing for clubs like Heerenveen, Veendam, and Cambuur. However, after retiring from football at the age of 24, he found a new calling as a muskrat catcher.

Discovering a New Path

Postma revealed that despite having trials with Werder Bremen, he was not picked up as a professional footballer due to doubts about his age. He then took on a job delivering beer for Heineken before joining Heerenveen. However, he eventually decided to retire from football and pursue a different career path.

Battling Muskrats

In the last 20 years, Postma has been working as a muskrat catcher in the north Netherlands. Muskrats are considered an invasive species and pose a threat to reclaimed land in the region. Postma described the job as detecting and killing muskrats, who often create large nests underground and can move a significant amount of sand through their digging efforts.

From 70 to 35

Postma shared that when he first started as a muskrat catcher, there were 70 people doing the same job in Friesland. However, the number has decreased to just 35 over time. Catching muskrats can be a challenging task, often taking several days before successfully trapping or eliminating them.

A New Chapter

While Postma's football career may have ended early, he has found solace and success in his role as a muskrat catcher. Although his name may not be in the headlines on the football field anymore, he continues to make a difference by protecting the land from these invasive rodents.