Arjen Robben

At 40 years old, Arjen Robben has this physical status:

Club career

Robben was named in Groningen's first team for the 1999–2000 season. In league play, he scored three goals. Before Groningen's November 2000 home game against Twente, manager Jan van Dijk brought the winger to the first team, but he didn't play against RKC Waalwijk as a replacement for the injured Leonardo dos Santos in the 79th minute. Robben continued to play himself into the starting lineup throughout the winter. In 18 appearances for Groningen over the 2000-2001 season, he scored two goals. Robben was named player of the year for his first season with the club, and he and teammate Jordi Hoogstrate displayed the team's strength during the Groningen youth academy. Robben stayed with Groningen and progressed steadily through the 2001–02 season, playing in 28 games and scoring six goals. Robben joined PSV for €3.9 million before the 2002–03 season.

Robben played 33 games and scored 12 goals during his first season for PSV, 2002-03 season. He was named "PSV co-player of the year" alongside striker Mateja Keman, with whom he formed an attacking alliance that PSV fans often referred to as "Batman and Robben." He helped PSV win the Talented Player of the Year award and helped them win their 17th Dutch title. PSV was unable to keep up with rival Ajax after getting off to a good start in the Ecrisie, and the team was forced into a brawl for second place. Robben travelled to London and spoke with Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson's bid was much too low for PSV's and Robben's liking; PSV chairman Harry van Raaij told Manchester United that the most money they would buy was a shirt with Robben's autograph. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich pleaded for €18 million (£12.1 million) and PSV accepted. PSV's season was disappointing: he strained his hamstring twice and missed many games. Robben scored five times in 23 Elementivisie games by the end of the season.

Robben did not make his Chelsea debut until November 2004, although he was hurt in a pre-season friendly match against Roma, breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot in a challenge to Olivier Dacourt. During this period, he told club doctors that an unusual growth on one of his testicles had been spotted. The medical staff rushed to perform tests for testicular cancer, but the doctor was not notified until after.

Robben was a key player for the 2004-05 season, winning the Premier League Player of the Month award in November 2004. Robben's second highest career total scored in the 2004–05 season was seven goals, his second highest total figure. He was selected for PFA Young Player of the Year, but Wayne Rooney of Manchester United defeated him. Robben sustained serious injury in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers and was forced to miss Chelsea's 2005 Football League Cup Final, Chelsea's championship run-in and into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Robben was a vital part of Chelsea's left wing from 2005-2006. Chelsea defeated Chelsea in their second straight Premier League title, the first back-to-back titles for the west London club. Robben scored six goals in 28 matches.

Robben was later named man of the match against Wigan Athletic on December 23, 2006, a match where he had two assists and the winning goal.

Robben sustained yet another injury during a match against Liverpool on January 20. Robben won 3–0 over Middlesbrough in February, driving in a shot that was deflection by Mark Schwarzer for his own goal by Abel Xavier. In the 2007 League Cup final against Arsenal, he came on as a replacement for Claude Makélélé and set up Didier Drogba's winning goal. In the second round of the Champions League against Porto, Robben scored a goal, resulting in Chelsea winning the tie 3–2 on aggregate. Robben underwent knee surgery after returning from international service, but it was expected to suspend him for at least four weeks. He made two more appearances for Chelsea, both of which were as a replacement and both of which would be crucial games for the club. In the Champions League semi-final second leg, his first appearance since returning from injury was against Liverpool. Robben continued to have his penalty saved by Pepe Reina, but Chelsea ultimately lost.

Robben's last game for the club came against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup Final. Robben replaced Joe Cole at halftime but Chelsea triumphantly swapped him for Ashley Cole in extra time. Two of Chelsea's players were interested in Real Madrid, a Spanish club. Bernd Schuster is accused of demanding Michael Ballack, while Real Madrid's then president Ramón Calderón was known to favour Robben. "I do not know when a deal will be reached," Robben told reporters of Spanish newspaper AS. I would like to send a note to the Madrid fans, but I can't until my destiny is decided."

He told Chelsea's official club website:

On August 22, Robben completed his move to Real Madrid on a five-year contract, with the transfer fee reported as £24 million (€35 million). Real Madrid beat Werder Bremen 2–1. He made his debut on September 18th as a replacement for Ral in a Champions League match against Werder Bremen, which Real Madrid beat 21-01. In a 1–1 away draw against Real Valladolid on September 23, his La Liga debut came as a replacement for Royston Drenthe. Robben scored his first goal against Valladolid on February 10, 2008, when he was away from home. Robben was instrumental in several Real Madrid games, making his infamous runs down the left wing and quickly becoming the first pick for the left midfield position, playing 28 times and scoring five goals. Real Madrid won the Liga title with multiple games to spare, and they were already the champions of Spain when they met Barcelona on May 7th. As the Madrid team advanced onto the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Robben was a point of pride, and the Barcelona players earned a point of honor by scoring the champions' second goal.

Robben played 35 times and scored 8 goals in the Real Madrid midfield during the 2008-2009 season, keeping his key role in the Real Madrid midfield. Despite the fact that the Dutchman was one of the most influential players in the Spanish side's pre-season games leading up to the 2009–10 season, scoring three goals and assisting in the construction of another four, he was one of the first team's key players after the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká. Real Madrid has been granted a €25 million contract for Robben from Bayern Munich. Robben said he was "forced" to leave Real Madrid, saying that he "didn't want to go" but the club wanted to sell him."

Robben went to Bayern Munich for about €25 million on August 28, 2009. He was given the number 10 jersey, the last one worn by his fellow Dutchman Roy Makaay. Bayern defeated Fiorentina by a score of 2–3 on aggregate over two legs) on March 9, 2010, putting them through to the quarter-finals of the 2009–10 Champions League on away goals. Robben scored the deciding goal in Bayern's 2–3 loss (4–4 on aggregate over two legs).

With a spectacular volley against Manchester United from the edge of the field to the corner of the net, Robben advanced Bayern Bayern into the Champions League semi-finals on April 7, 2010. The game ended 3–2 to United (4–4 on aggregate), with Bayern advancing again due to away goals.

He scored his first hat-trick in the Bundesliga against Hannover 96 in the Allianz Arena on April 17, 2010. The Bavarians won 7-0. After scoring two goals in Bayern's 3–1 victory over Hertha BSC on May 8, 2010, he won his first Bundesliga title with the club on Sunday.

Bayern defeated Werder Bremen, the tournament's previous champions, in a Berlin Olympiastadion last week. Bayern defeated the game 4–0, with Robben scoring the first of his team's goals from a penalty kick. Robben also helped the Bavarians win their 15th DFB-Pokal title. Robben was named Footballer of the Year in Germany on May 25th, 2010. He was both the fourth foreigner and the first Dutchman to win the title. He scored 23 goals in 37 appearances in the 2009–10 season.

Robben's 2010-11 season began poorly, after medical tests revealed that his hamstring had not properly healed and that he would be out for two months. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said, "Of course, Bayern Munich is very upset" with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), and that they will request compensation from them, adding: "Once more, we must pay the bill as a club after a player is acutely injured while playing for a national team." He returned to first team action on January 15 in a 1-1 away draw with VfL Wolfsburg as a replacement.

Robben was nominated for the UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder award, but the honor went to his international compatriot Wesley Sneijder. He has also been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or Award and the FIFA Puskás Award, which is the year's highest honor, and he has been named in FIFA's FIFPro World XI 2010 team for his outstanding season with Bayern Munich. He had 13 goals in 17 appearances in the 2010–11 season.

Robben scored a penalty to tie the tie at 3:3 in the second leg of the 2011-12 Champions League, against his former club Real Madrid, which had then been his manager at Chelsea, after Bayern fell behind 2–0. Bayern won the resulting penalty shootout and advanced to the final after winning the resulting penalty shootout.

Robben had signed a new deal with Bayern that would run until 2015.

In the 2012 Champions League final against Chelsea, Robben had an extra-time penalty saved by former teammate Petr ech. Bayern Munich would have led Chelsea 2–1. Chelsea took the match, but it was still a penalty shootout that Chelsea lost. It was his fourth major cup final that he had been on the losing team in the last two years (FIFA World Cup finals, two Champions League finals, and the DFB-Pokal). He was booed every time he touched the ball three days later in the Champions League final, and because he didn't play for Bayern's side during the match due to Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk's decision). Since Robben aggravated an injury while playing for the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup, the game was scheduled to honor Bayern. He made 19 goals in 36 appearances during the 2011–12 season.

In the 2012-2013 season, the German Super Cup was held in Berlin. Robben had started the season on the bench, as boss Jupp Heynckes preferred to start Thomas Müller on the right wing, with Toni Kroos in the attacking midfielder role. Robben had been playing as a reserve throughout the season, but he had a chance to return after Kroos was unable to play against Juventus during the Champions League match against Juventus. He started on the right wing for the remainder of the season, after transferring Müller back to the middle. Robben started against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal, scoring the game's lone goal in the 43rd minute. Robben started both games and scored in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, including the go-ahead goal in the second leg. Bayern will then advance to the final in Wembley Stadium. Robben was forgiven for his penalty miss the previous season by arranging teammate Mario Manduki's goal to open the scoring in the 60th minute before winning by 89th minutes in Bayern's 2–1 victory over Borussia Dortmund to win their fifth Champions League/European Cup title. UEFA named Man of the Match during the presentation. Since then, he has been known as "Mr. Wembley" in this regard. With 13 goals in 31 appearances, he finished the 2012–13 season.

In the 2013 DFL-Supercup, Robben scored his first goals of the 2013–14 season, beating Borussia Dortmund 4–2. Bayern beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1 in their first match of the 2013–14 Bundesliga season on August 9, 2013. He scored in Bayern's Champions League opener against CSKA Moscow at the Allianz Arena on September 17th. In away victories over Manchester City and CSKA as Bayern finished as group champions in the Champions League group stage, he continued scoring two more goals. Bayern defeated Borussia Dortmund 3–0 at the Westfalenstadion on November 23nd, Robben was one of three scorers. Robben was disqualified with a deep knee injury in a 2–0 DFB-Pokal win over FC Augsburg on December 4, which barred him from participating in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup.

In Bayern's 5–1 victory over Schalke 04 on March 1, 2014, Robben scored a hat-trick. He agreed to a contract extension with Bayern on March 19th, which will keep him at the club until 2017. Robben scored Bayern's third goal in a 3–1 Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United on April 9th to gain qualification for the semi-finals. Robben scored Bayern's first goal in a 2–0 overtime win over Borussia Dortmund in the 2014 DFB-Pokal Final, giving him his third league and cup double in five seasons with the club. In addition, his goal made him the first player to score in three separate DFB-Pokol finals. Louis van Gaal, after winning the third place match at the 2014 World Cup, invited Robben to join him in Manchester United, but the latter turned down the transfer. He scored 21 goals in 45 appearances in the 2013-14 season.

Robben scored one goal and assisted the other in Bayern's opening match of the 2014-15 Bundesliga season, defeating VfL Wolfsburg 21-0 on August 22, 2014. In Der Klassiker, he scored the winning goal on November 1st after a penalty kick against Borussia Dortmund. In a home match against SC Freiburg on December 16, Robben scored his 100th competitive goal for Bayern Munich.

Robben scored twice in a 6–0 victory over SC Paderborn on February 21, 2015, giving him the honor of scoring against every Bundesliga team he had ever faced. With 17 goals, he finished 2014–15 as joint second-best goalscorer in the Bundesliga, alongside teammate Robert Lewandowski. Despite the player missing the last two months of the season due to injuries, this was still in the case. With 19 goals in 30 appearances, he finished the 2014-2015 season.

Robben started his 2015–16 season by scoring the first goal of the DFL-Supercup against VfL Wolfsburg. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Robben scoring in the ensuing shootout, but Bayern was disqualified.

In a 3–0 loss of Bayer Leverkusen on August 29, Robben's first goal of the Bundesliga season came as a result of a penalty kick. However, an injury sustained six days later while playing for the Netherlands against Iceland in UEFA Euro 2016 knocked him out of Bayern's next nine games. Robben returned to the Bayern team on October 24th, playing 65 minutes and scoring the opening goal of a 4–0 victory over 1. FC Köln, the club's 1,000th Bundesliga victory. After coming on as a replacement in Bayern's 5–1 victory over Arsenal, he made his first Champions League appearance of the season on November 4th. With seven goals in 22 appearances, he finished the 2015–16 season.

Robben, who was recovering from his injury, was chosen for a friendly against SV Lippstadt 08. He scored a goal just before being forced to leave due to another injury in the 36th minute. Robben's six-week absence caused him to miss several games. He returned to training and stayed on the bench until the 1991 Bundesliga match against Hertha BSC, where he took on Thomas Müller instead of him and scored in the 3–0 victory. Bayern defeated Arsenal 10–2 on aggregate in both the first and second legs of the round-of-sixteen match against Arsenal. He played in 37 appearances over the 2016–17 season.

Robben joined Bayern on January 16, 2017, prolonging his deal with the club until the end of the 2017-18 season. In a 4–0 victory over 1, he scored a goal with his right foot for the first time since February 2015. On September 16, FSV Mainz 05 hosted a television interview. Robben won by 3–0 over Celtic F.C. on October 18, his 100th Champions League appearance. The event's group stage match takes place. Robben scored a stunning goal in a 3–1 away victory over Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on November 4th, making him Bayern's most prolific non-German scorer in the Bundesliga and the most effective Dutch goal scorer in the Bundesliga. Bayern defeated SC Paderborn 6–0 away, allowing him to progress to the semi-finals of DFB-Pokal on February 6, 2018. Robben won his seventh Bundesliga title and set a Dutch record by winning his 11th domestic league title, beating Dutch legend Johan Cruyff's ten career domestic league titles. He had seven goals in 34 appearances during the 2017-18 season.

Robben signed a one-year deal on May 11, 2018, extending his contract until the 2018-19 season.

Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5–0 on Tuesday, starting the season off by playing in the 2018 DFL-Supercup for 58 minutes and winning the trophy. Robben scored two goals in a 5–1 victory over S.L. on November 27, 29. Benfica is a member of the Champions League. In an interview with Robben on Tuesday, he said, "I can say that this year [at Bayern] is my last year [at Bayern], and it is lovely like that." After ten years, I feel it is the right time to reflect. The club continues to develop, but I can imagine what the future may be like. It's the end of a very positive and lengthy period.

Robben defeated Bayern 5–1 on May 18, his last league goal for the team in Bundesliga, with Bayern winning their 28th Bundesliga crown and Robben winning their eighth. Bayern defeated RB Leipzig 3–0 in the 2019 DFB-Pokal Final on May 25, 2019, Robben captured his fifth DFB-Pokal as Bayern defeated RB Leipzig 3–0. He had six goals in 19 appearances during the 2018-19 season. He scored 99 goals in 201 Bundesliga matches.

Robben announced his retirement from football on July 4, 2019.

Robben announced his return to action on Friday, signing with FC Groningen, the team he began his career with, in an attempt to help the team recover from the COVID-19 setbacks. In a pre-season friendly against Arminia Bielefeld, he scored his first goal for Groningen. He made his league debut against PSV on September 13, 2020, but he was forced to miss only 28 minutes due to injury. In a loss to SC Heerenveen on April 20, 2021, he returned as a substitute after a nearly seven-month absence. Robben was back in Groningen's starting lineup on May 9th, providing two assists in a 4–0 victory over Emmen.

Robben announced his second and final retirement from professional football on July 15, 2021.

International career

He made his Netherlands international debut in a friendly match against Portugal at age 19.

When Robben's first appearance at an international tournament, he was called up younger players, including Wesley Sneijder and John Heitinga. Adben was brought back in the 66th minute by Adi Sidney to hold a 2–1 advantage over the Czech Republic in the group stage of the tournament. The Czechs, on the other hand, scored two goals and won 3–2, prompting criticism of Advocaat's decision. Robben scored the decisive kick in the penalty shootout between the Netherlands and Sweden, ensuring that the Dutch won a shootout at the fifth attempt.

In 2006, Robben appeared in his first FIFA World Cup qualifier. Robben scored two goals in six games for the Netherlands. In their first match against Serbia and Montenegro, Robben scored the winning goal in the 18th minute and was named Player of the match. Robben received this award for the second time in the match against the Ivory Coast, making him one of the tournament's top eight players to have received multiple Man of the Match awards.

Marco van Basten, the new Dutch manager, brought the team's formation to 4–2-3–1, preferring Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, and Dirk Kuyt, with Robben left to fight for a position with Robin van Persie on the wing. Robben was allowed to leave at halftime in a group match against France, which the Netherlands won 4–1. He pulled the ball out of reach of a defender near the half-way line and paced his way ahead of three players, then crossed to Van Persie, who fired a shot into the goal past France goalkeeper Grégory Coupet. Thierry Henry scored a goal for France, making it 2–1, but Robben was forced to run at the France goal and was forced into an acute angle by Sneijder, forcing the ball into the net past Coupet at 2–0, but despite the angle, he shot the ball into the net past Coupet.

Robben was chosen by new manager Bert van Marwijk for the final 23-man Dutch squad for the 2010 World Cup. Robben was oddly and sustained a hamstring injury in the team's last friendly match against Hungary, just weeks before his flight to South Africa on June 4th, raising concerns about his potential for the tournament. Van Marwijk revealed on June 5 that he had "decided not to bring any substitute for Arjen." "I want to give him every chance to continue to participate in the World Cup." Robben joined the team in South Africa on June 12th. In the 1–0 victory over Japan, he was an unused substitute for the first match against Denmark, who were coasted to a 2–0 victory and then defeated them once more. In the 73rd minute against Cameroon, they won by 2–1, winning by a landslide, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored from the rebound.

Robben scored the first goal in the second round on June 28, 2010, when the Netherlands defeated Slovakia 2–1. He also received the man of the match award. Robben scored his third goal with a well-placed header against Uruguay in the semi-finals, which the Netherlands won 3–2 to advance to the final. Robben was in the final for the complete match after the Netherlands lost 1–0 to Spain. When Robben played on goal by Wesley Sneijder in the 62nd minute of the match, he had the Netherlands' best chance of the game, but Iker Casillas denied him. Robben was selected for the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball, the tournament's top player, which was won by Diego Forlán.

Robben was chosen to represent the Netherlands at Euro 2012 by Robben. He got off the ground in the first group stage match, losing 1–0 to Denmark, in which he struck the post with a hurried effort. He hopped over the advertisement boards and walked the long way round in the next match, a 2–1 loss to Germany, after being told not to play Dirk Kuyt because he might have influenced the Netherlands to victory. The Netherlands were defeated in three straight defeats after a 2–1 loss to Portugal.

Robben scored two goals in the Netherlands' first match of the 2014 World Cup, defeating Spain 5–1. Robben scored the team's first goal in the Netherlands' second group stage match, a 3–2 victory over Australia, as they prepared for the knockout stage. The Netherlands won on a penalty after Robben went down after a match with Mexico in the round of 16 knockout matches with Mexico, after Rafael Márquez's challenge. Robben's "theatrical" fall, according to the Associated Press, "did little to defuse the discussion surrounding his dive reputation." Robben maintained that the penalty was correct, but that he confessed to falling fast earlier in the game, telling a Dutch TV channel that "the one [at the end] was a penalty," but that the other one was a dive in the first half. "I shouldn't be doing that."

In a 4–3 penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica, Robben scored the Netherlands' second kick in the quarter-finals. Robben was selected on the ten-man shortlist for FIFA's Golden Ball award for the tournament's top player on July 11th.

Robben was appointed captain of the Netherlands on August 28, 2015, replacing Robin van Persie.

Robben resigned from international football after the team's disappointing 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign ended on October 10th. He played for the Oranje from 2003 to 2017 and scored 37 goals.

Career statistics

During a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Moldova, Robben scored his first international goal in October 2003. Following their disappointing qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he ultimately decided to withdraw from international service in 2017.

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