As a footballer, Odenthal played for EDO, Haarlem, SC Enschede and Tubantia respectively.[5] Born in Haarlem, his move from EDO to in-city rivals HFC Haarlem was hugely unpopular among fans. After a move to Enschede, he continued his football career with the two main Hoofdklasse clubs from that city. Between 1951 and 1956, he made 24 appearances for the Netherlands national team. He made his international debut against Finland in 1951.[6] After his active sports career, Odenthal for a long time coached both baseball players and footballers at Achilles '12 in Hengelo. He also coached the senior team of Quick '20. Odenthal, together with Henk Schijvenaar and Cor Wilders, remains one of the only athletes competing for both the Netherlands football team and baseball team.[7]
^Hamel, Wim; van der Heijden, Guus; Vleeshhouwer, Theo (16 March 1962). Honkbal veroverde Goud: 50 Jaar Koninklijke Nederlandse Honkbal Bond (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Koninklijke Nederlandse Honkbal Bond. pp. 61–63.
^Chetwynd, Josh (2008). Baseball in Europe: A Country by Country History. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. p. 18. ISBN9780786437245.
^"H.F.C. EDO" (in Dutch). Historie Betaald Voetbal. Retrieved 21 December 2020. Henk Schijvenaar behoort samen met Joop Odenthal en Cor Wilders tot de enige sporters die zowel voor het Nederlands voetbalteam als het Nederlands honkbalteam uitkwam.