We're used to seeing former soccer players become managers, sporting directors, agents or, occasionally, club owners. But a former professional striker behind a global music label? That's a different story.
Ruud Boymans is one of the co-founders of No Art, the Amsterdam-based label established in 2017 that has grown into a global music phenomenon, powered in part by the success of its DJ duo, ANOTR. You may have heard their global hits "Talk to You" or "Relax Your Eyes." Or perhaps you've seen the viral clip of John Stones dancing in the England dressing room, moving his shoulders while his teammates joke with manager Thomas Tuchel. John Stones 🕺😂The energy in the changing room last night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mKqId1pnyJ However, this story didn't start this summer; it has a long history of hard work and vision.
It started more than a decade ago when a former professional soccer player turned his passion into a job. Ruud Boymans is one of those stories that need to be told. Boymans talked about his journey from professional football to becoming a driving force behind No Art and the global rise of ANOTR.
Boymans is a former Dutch professional striker who played for Fortuna Sittard, VVV-Venlo, AZ Alkmaar, NEC Nijmegen, Willem II, FC Utrecht and Al Shabab in Dubai. At Willem II, he scored 27 goals during the 2013–14 season before moving to FC Utrecht (where he also played under former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag), managing to help his club get promoted back to the Eredivisie. First of all, how can a soccer player move from sport to the music and club scenes, and end up founding one of the most successful and interesting projects in the world?
It's not how you would expect. "It all started when I was 25 and I went to Ibiza for the first time in my life. That trip changed something inside me.
I've just made my move to Utrecht and it was my first real experience with electronic music. I wanted to do something with it. I even spoke with my mother because I was even considering quitting playing at that time for a moment, but I had to think carefully on how to manage it.
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