Dutch football legend Frank de Boer has revealed his favourite places to eat, relax and play padel in Marbella.
The former Netherlands captain has had a connection with the coastal gem for more than two decades and continues to return with his family year after year.
Speaking in an interview with Marbella estate agency DM Properties Knight Frank, the 56-year-old explained that it is not simply the sunshine that keeps drawing him back to southern Spain.
For De Boer, Marbella’s appeal lies in its lifestyle, boasting mountains, outdoor living, sport, family gatherings and the ability to enjoy the Mediterranean climate throughout much of the year.
And during a quick-fire round, the former Ajax and Barcelona defender revealed some of the places that have become his personal favourites.
Pool over beach and Old Town over Puerto Banus
De Boer was asked to choose between some of Marbella’s best-known attractions.
First up, he was asked ‘beach or pool?’, to which he rapidly replied with the latter.
But when asked to pick between Puerto Banus and Marbella’s historic Old Town, his answer was even more decisive.
‘Casco Antiguo,’ he said firmly.
The choice puts De Boer firmly on the side of traditional Marbella, preferring its narrow streets, whitewashed buildings and bustling squares to Banus’s superyachts and designer boutiques.
His favourite Marbella restaurant
De Boer was also asked to reveal his favourite restaurant in the area.
His choice was La Tienda Casa Curro, a popular restaurant in Marbella known for its intimate setting and Mediterranean-inspired food.
It was another choice away from some of the resort’s more ostentatious celebrity hotspots and beachside venues.
Padel beats golf
And when it comes to sport, there was another clear winner.
Asked whether he preferred golf or padel, De Boer chose padel – the racket sport that has exploded in popularity across Spain and particularly on the Costa del Sol.
Picking his favourite club proved slightly more difficult.
De Boer named Los Naranjos in Nueva Andalucia and NAC in San Pedro de Alcantara as his preferred places to play.
Marbella has become a major padel destination, with dozens of courts and clubs dotted throughout the municipality, while the sport has attracted numerous current and former professional footballers.
Why winter wins over summer
Perhaps one of De Boer’s answers that will resonate most with Marbella’s year-round residents came when he was asked to choose between summer and winter in the resort.
He chose winter.
While July and August bring enormous numbers of visitors to Marbella and the wider Costa del Sol, the winter months offer a markedly quieter version of the resort.
The crowds thin, roads and restaurants become less hectic and residents can still enjoy the area’s relatively mild climate and outdoor lifestyle.
For De Boer, that appears to be Marbella at its best.
Asked at the end of the quick-fire round whether he could imagine himself living in Marbella full-time, the Dutch football legend did not hesitate, saying: ‘Without a doubt.’
Decorated footballer
De Boer enjoyed one of the most decorated playing careers in Dutch football, making more than 100 appearances for the Netherlands and spending much of his club career with Ajax before moving to Barcelona in 1999.
He won five Eredivisie titles with Ajax as well as the Champions League in 1995, and later won La Liga with Barcelona.
After retiring as a player, he moved into management, winning four consecutive Dutch league titles with Ajax and later taking charge of clubs including Inter Milan, Crystal Palace and Atlanta United, as well as the Netherlands national team.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
