Former Wigan Athletic defender Arjan de Zeeuw has revealed his ambition to become a detective inspector in his native Netherlands.

The 43-year-old retired from football in 2009 after a 17-year career which included spells at Portsmouth, Barnsley and Coventry City.

He was offered a way into coaching at Swansea City by former Latics teammate Roberto Martinez, but instead returned to Holland to improve his medical degree, which he had obtained before pursuing a career in football.

After deciding that the medical route would take too long, De Zeeuw joined the police force and now has ambitions of becoming a detective.

He told the Daily Mail: "I have always been interested in the police and wanted to do something useful to society. The police here run a scheme to attract people with degrees and you can get fast-tracked.

"I've experienced all different types of police work as part of the training to be a specialist detective and if things go well I become an inspector this summer."

De Zeeuw captained the Wigan team that reached the League Cup final in 2006.