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Arjen Robben

Robben playing for Bayern Munich in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth	(1984-01-23) 23 January 1984 (age 41)
Place of birth	Bedum, Netherlands
Height	1.80 m
Playing position	Winger
Youth career
1989–1996	VV Bedum
1996–2000	Groningen
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2000–2002	Groningen	46	(8)
2002–2004	PSV	56	(17)
2004–2007	Chelsea	67	(15)
2007–2009	Real Madrid	50	(11)
2009–2019	Bayern Munich	201	(99)
2020–2021	Groningen	6	(0)
Total		426	(150)
National team
1999	Netherlands U15	1	(0)
1999–2000	Netherlands U16	11	(4)
2000	Netherlands U17	3	(1)
2001–2002	Netherlands U19	8	(2)
2001–2003	Netherlands U21	8	(1)
2003–2017	Netherlands	96	(37)
Honours Representing  Netherlands Men's football FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2010 South Africa Third 2014 Brazil UEFA European Championship Bronze 2004 Portugal
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Arjen Robben (born 23 January 1984) is a Dutch former professional footballer. He played as a winger, a player who attacks from the sides of the field. Robben was famous for his amazing dribbling, incredible speed, and powerful long-range shots. Many people consider him one of the best wingers in football history.

Robben first became well-known at Groningen. He was even named their player of the year in the 2000–01 season. Later, he joined PSV, where he won the Netherlands' Young Player of the Year award and an Eredivisie title. In 2004, he moved to Chelsea in England. Even though he had an injury early on, he helped Chelsea win two Premier League titles in a row.

After three seasons in England, Robben signed with Real Madrid in 2007. In 2009, he moved to Bayern Munich in Germany. At Bayern, he won many trophies, including eight Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2013, where he scored the winning goal. He was also known for his great teamwork with fellow winger Franck Ribéry, and they were often called Robbery.

Robben also had a fantastic international career with the Netherlands. He played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, where the Netherlands finished second. He also helped his team get third place in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He retired from football in 2019 but made a brief return to Groningen in 2020 before retiring for good in 2021.

Early Life & Career Start

Arjen Robben was born in Bedum, a town in the northeastern part of the Netherlands. He loved football from a young age. He learned a special way of playing called the Coerver Method. This method helped him become very skilled at controlling the ball and using his feet.

His talent was quickly noticed, and he joined a local club called FC Groningen. There, he developed his unique style of play. He would often run from the right side of the field, cut inside towards the middle, and then shoot with his left foot, scoring some amazing goals.

Club Career Highlights

Groningen

Robben joined Groningen's main team for the 2000–01 season. He scored two goals in 18 games and was named the club's player of the year. He continued to improve in the 2001–02 season, scoring six goals in 28 matches. His great performances led him to transfer to PSV for €3.9 million before the 2002–03 season.

PSV

In his first season with PSV (2002–03), Robben played 33 matches and scored 12 goals. He was named "PSV co-player of the year" and helped his team win their 17th Dutch title. He also won the Talented Player of the Year award.

After this successful start, top clubs became interested in him. Chelsea offered €18 million (about £12.1 million), which PSV accepted. Robben's remaining time with PSV was affected by injuries, but he still scored five goals in 23 league matches that season.

Chelsea

Robben celebrates winning the 2004–05 Premier League

Robben's first game for Chelsea was on 23 October 2004, against Blackburn Rovers. His debut was delayed because he broke a bone in his foot during a pre-season friendly match.

He quickly became a key player for Chelsea in the 2004–05 season. In November 2004, he was named Premier League Player of the Month. He finished the season with seven goals. Robben was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award but it went to Wayne Rooney. He got injured again, missing the 2005 Football League Cup Final and some important Champions League games.

In the 2005–06 season, Robben was a vital part of Chelsea's attack. He scored six goals in 28 matches, helping Chelsea win their second straight Premier League title. This was the first time Chelsea had won back-to-back titles.

In the 2006–07 season, Robben continued to perform well. He was named man of the match in a game against Wigan Athletic in December 2006, where he scored the winning goal and assisted two others. He also scored a crucial goal in the Champions League against Porto, helping Chelsea win the tie. His final game for Chelsea was in the 2007 FA Cup Final, which Chelsea won.

Real Madrid

Robben playing for Real Madrid in 2009

Robben joined Real Madrid on 22 August 2007, signing a five-year deal. The transfer fee was reported to be £24 million (€35 million). He made his first appearance for Real Madrid in a Champions League match on 18 September.

On 10 February 2008, Robben scored his first goal for the club in a big 7–0 win. He became a very important player for Real Madrid, known for his fast runs down the left wing. He played 28 games in his first season and scored five goals. Real Madrid won the La Liga title that year. Robben scored a goal in their 4–1 victory over rivals Barcelona.

In the 2008–09 season, Robben continued to be a key player, playing 35 times and scoring 8 goals. However, with new players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká joining Real Madrid, the club decided to sell Robben. He moved to Bayern Munich for about €25 million.

Bayern Munich

2009–10 Season

Arjen Robben in 2010

Robben joined Bayern Munich on 28 August 2009. He was given the number 10 jersey. On 9 March 2010, Robben scored a vital goal against Fiorentina in the Champions League, helping Bayern reach the quarter-finals.

He scored another amazing goal against Manchester United on 7 April 2010, sending Bayern into the Champions League semi-finals. On 17 April 2010, he scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) in the Bundesliga.

On 8 May 2010, Robben won his first Bundesliga title with Bayern, scoring two goals in the final game. A week later, Bayern won the DFB-Pokal (German Cup), with Robben scoring the first goal from a penalty. He was named Footballer of the Year in Germany for 2010. He finished the season with 23 goals in 37 games.

2010–11 Season

The 2010–11 season started with bad news for Robben. He had a hamstring injury that kept him out for two months. He returned to play in January 2011.

Robben was nominated for several awards that year, including the UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder and the prestigious Ballon d'Or. He finished the season with 13 goals in 17 appearances.

2011–12 Season

Robben preparing to take a free kick during the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final

In the Champions League semi-finals against his old club Real Madrid, Robben scored a penalty that helped Bayern win the game in a penalty shootout. This sent Bayern to the final.

On 3 May 2012, Robben signed a new contract with Bayern until 2015. However, in the 2012 Champions League final against Chelsea, Robben missed an extra-time penalty. Chelsea went on to win the match in a penalty shootout. This was a tough loss for Robben, as it was his fourth major cup final loss in two years. He finished the season with 19 goals in 36 games.

2012–13 Season

In the 2012–13 season, Robben started on the bench often. But after a teammate got injured, he got his chance to start again. He scored the only goal in a DFB-Pokal quarter-final match against Borussia Dortmund.

In the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, Robben scored in both games. Bayern reached the final again. This time, Robben made up for his previous miss by setting up the first goal and then scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute against Borussia Dortmund. Bayern won 2–1, securing their fifth Champions League title. Robben was named Man of the Match. He finished the season with 13 goals in 31 games.

2013–14 Season

Robben scored his first goals of the 2013–14 season in the 2013 DFL-Supercup. He also scored in Bayern's first Bundesliga match, helping them win 3–1. He scored two more goals in the Champions League group stage.

On 1 March 2014, Robben scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 win. On 19 March, he signed a contract extension with Bayern until 2017. On 17 May, Robben scored Bayern's first goal in the 2014 DFB-Pokal Final, helping them win another cup. This made him the first player to score in three different DFB-Pokal finals. He finished the season with 21 goals in 45 games.

2014–15 Season

In Bayern's first match of the 2014–15 Bundesliga season, Robben scored one goal and assisted another. On 1 November, he scored the winning goal against Borussia Dortmund. On 16 December 2014, Robben scored his 100th goal for Bayern Munich.

On 21 February 2015, Robben scored twice in a 6–0 win. This meant he had scored against every Bundesliga team he had played against. He ended the season as the joint second-top goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 17 goals, even though he missed the last two months due to injury. He finished the season with 19 goals in 30 games.

2015–16 Season

Robben started the 2015–16 season by scoring in the 2015 DFL-Supercup. However, he got injured again while playing for the Netherlands, missing nine games for Bayern. He returned on 24 October, scoring the opening goal in a 4–0 win. He finished the season with seven goals in 22 games.

2016–17 Season

Robben suffered another injury in a friendly match, causing him to miss several games. He returned on 21 September, scoring in a 3–0 victory. Robben scored in both games of the Champions League round-of-sixteen against Arsenal, helping Bayern win 10–2 overall. He finished the season with 16 goals in 37 games.

2017–18 Season

On 16 January 2017, Robben signed a one-year contract extension with Bayern. On 18 October, he played his 100th Champions League game. On 4 November, Robben scored a fantastic goal against Borussia Dortmund. This made him Bayern's most successful non-German scorer in the Bundesliga.

He won his seventh Bundesliga title, setting a Dutch record with 11 career domestic league titles. He finished the season with seven goals in 34 games. On 11 May 2018, Robben signed another one-year contract.

2018–19 Season

On 12 August, Robben won the 2018 DFL-Supercup with Bayern. On 27 November, he scored two goals in a Champions League match against Benfica. On 2 December, Robben announced that this would be his last year at Bayern, saying it was "the end of a very good and long period."

On 18 May 2019, he scored his last league goal for Bayern in the Bundesliga, helping them win their 28th title and his eighth. On 25 May 2019, Robben won his fifth DFB-Pokal as Bayern defeated RB Leipzig 3–0. He finished his final season with six goals in 19 games. In 201 Bundesliga matches, he scored 99 goals.

On 4 July 2019, Robben officially announced his retirement from football.

Return to Groningen

On 27 June 2020, Robben surprised everyone by announcing he would return to play for FC Groningen, the club where he started his career. He wanted to help the team after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He scored his first goal back in a friendly match.

On 13 September 2020, he played his first league game for Groningen but had to leave after only 28 minutes due to an injury. After almost seven months, he returned in April 2021. On 9 May, Robben started a game and provided two assists in a 4–0 win.

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

International Career

In April 2003, at just 19 years old, Arjen Robben made his first appearance for the Netherlands national team in a friendly match against Portugal.

Euro 2004

Robben played in his first big international tournament at UEFA Euro 2004. In the quarter-finals, he scored the winning kick in a penalty shootout against Sweden. This was a big moment, as the Dutch team had often struggled in shootouts before.

2006 World Cup

Robben played in the qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored two goals in six games, helping the Netherlands qualify. In their first World Cup match against Serbia and Montenegro, Robben scored the winning goal and was named the Player of the match. He won this award again in the next game, becoming one of only eight players in the tournament to win it multiple times.

Euro 2008

At UEFA Euro 2008, Robben came on as a substitute in a group match against France. The Netherlands won 4–1, and Robben played a big part, setting up one goal and scoring another with a difficult shot.

2010 World Cup

Robben was chosen for the Dutch squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Just before the tournament, he got a hamstring injury, which worried many fans. However, he recovered enough to join the team in South Africa.

He came on as a substitute in a group game against Cameroon. On 28 June 2010, Robben started his first match against Slovakia in the second round, scoring the first goal in a 2–1 win. He also won the man of the match award. Robben scored a header in the semi-finals against Uruguay, helping the Netherlands win 3–2 and reach the final.

Robben played the entire final match, but the Netherlands lost 1–0 to Spain. He had a great chance to score but was stopped by the Spanish goalkeeper. Robben was nominated for the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball, an award for the tournament's best player.

Euro 2012

Robben played for the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2012. The team had a tough tournament, losing all three of their group stage matches and being knocked out early.

2014 World Cup

In the Netherlands' first match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Robben scored two goals in an amazing 5–1 win over Spain. In their second group game, a 3–2 win over Australia, Robben scored the opening goal.

In the round of 16 match against Mexico, the Netherlands won with a penalty awarded after Robben was fouled. Robben later admitted that he had fallen easily earlier in the match but insisted the penalty was correct.

In the quarter-final, Robben scored a penalty in a shootout against Costa Rica, which the Netherlands won 4–3. On 11 July, Robben was named on the shortlist for the tournament's Golden Ball award.

On 28 August 2015, Robben was named captain of the Netherlands national team.

2018 World Cup

On 10 October 2017, Robben announced his retirement from international football. This was after the team did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He played 96 games for the Netherlands between 2003 and 2017 and scored 37 goals.

How He Played

Arjen Robben was known as one of the best wingers in the world. He was great at taking on defenders and getting past them. He could also deliver accurate crosses into the penalty area, which made him a scary player for any defense.

He usually played on the right wing. Robben would often cut inside onto his left foot, moving closer to the center of the field. He used his speed and dribbling skills to get past defenders until he found space to shoot. He was mostly a left-footed player.

Sometimes, he would switch to the left wing during a game, while his teammate (like Franck Ribéry at Bayern) would move to the right. Robben also improved his defensive work when he joined Bayern. He would often run back to help his team and cover for his teammate when they went forward.

Robben was sometimes accused of diving (pretending to be fouled). He even admitted to it sometimes. In December 2011, he apologized for a dive in a cup match. In July 2014, he admitted to diving in the first half of a World Cup match but said the penalty he won later was real.

Personal Life

Robben with his wife Bernadien in 2014

Arjen Robben married his girlfriend, Bernadien Eillert, on 9 June 2007. They met in high school in Groningen. They have two sons, Luka (born 2008) and Kai (born 2012), and a daughter, Lynn (born 2010). Robben's father, Hans, works as his agent.

Sponsorship

Robben had a sponsorship deal with the German sports company Adidas. He was also featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series before he retired. He was one of the highest-rated players in FIFA 15.

Career Statistics

Club

• 1.Includes KNVB Cup, FA Cup, Copa del Rey and DFB-Pokal.
• 2.Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
• 3.Includes Eredivisie playoff, English League Cup, FA Community Shield, Spanish Super Cup, German Super Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.

International

Robben with Dutch teammate Dirk Kuyt

Robben scored his first international goal in October 2003 during a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Moldova. He retired from international duty in 2017 after the team did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Scores and results list Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Robben goal.

List of international goals scored by Arjen Robben

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	11 October 2003	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Moldova	5–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
2	18 February 2004	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	United States	1–0	1–0	Friendly
3	17 November 2004	Mini Estadi, Barcelona, Spain	Andorra	2–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	4 June 2005	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Romania	1–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	17 August 2005	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Germany	1–0	2–2	Friendly
6				2–0
7	11 June 2006	Zentralstadion, Leipzig, Germany	Serbia and Montenegro	1–0	1–0	2006 FIFA World Cup
8	16 August 2006	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland	Republic of Ireland	2–0	4–0	Friendly
9	1 June 2008	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Wales	1–0	2–0	Friendly
10	13 June 2008	Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland	France	3–1	4–1	UEFA Euro 2008
11	10 June 2009	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Norway	2–0	2–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
12	5 June 2010	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Hungary	3–1	6–1	Friendly
13				6–1
14	28 June 2010	Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa	Slovakia	1–0	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup
15	6 July 2010	Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa	Uruguay	3–1	3–2	2010 FIFA World Cup
16	29 February 2012	Wembley Stadium, London, England	England	1–0	3–2	Friendly
17				3–2
18	7 June 2013	Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia	Indonesia	3–0	3–0	Friendly
19	6 September 2013	A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia	Estonia	1–0	2–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
20	11 October 2013	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Hungary	8–1	8–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
21	15 October 2013	Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey	Turkey	1–0	2–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
22	16 November 2013	Cristal Arena, Genk, Belgium	Japan	2–0	2–2	Friendly
23	4 June 2014	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Wales	1–0	2–0	Friendly
24	13 June 2014	Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil	Spain	2–1	5–1	2014 FIFA World Cup
25				5–1
26	18 June 2014	Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil	Australia	1–0	3–2	2014 FIFA World Cup
27	16 November 2014	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Latvia	2–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2016 qualification
28				5–0
29	16 November 2015	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	2–1	3–2	Friendly
30				3–2
31	13 November 2016	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg	Luxembourg	1–0	3–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
32	4 June 2017	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Ivory Coast	2–0	5–0	Friendly
33	9 June 2017	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Luxembourg	1–0	5–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
34	3 September 2017	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Bulgaria	2–0	3–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
35	7 October 2017	Borisov Arena, Barysaw, Belarus	Belarus	2–1	3–1	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
36	10 October 2017	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Sweden	1–0	2–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
37				2–0

Honours

PSV

• Eredivisie: 2002–03
• Johan Cruyff Shield: 2003

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06
• FA Cup: 2006–07
• Football League Cup: 2004–05, 2006–07
• FA Community Shield: 2005

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2007–08
• Supercopa de España: 2008

Bayern Munich

• Bundesliga: 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
• DFB-Pokal: 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2018–19
• DFL-Supercup: 2012, 2018
• UEFA Champions League: 2012–13
• UEFA Super Cup: 2013

Netherlands

• FIFA World Cup runners up: 2010; third place: 2014

Individual

• Johan Cruyff Trophy: 2002–03
• UEFA European Championship top assist provider: 2004
• Premier League Player of the Month: November 2004
• PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05 Premier League
• ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2009–10, 2014–15
• Bravo Award: 2005
• Goal of the Month in Germany: January 2010, March 2010, April 2010, February 2013
• VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2009–10
• The kicker Man of the Year: 2010
• Footballer of the Year in Germany: 2010
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2011, 2014
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2013–14
• FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 2014
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2014
• FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2014
• Dutch Sportsman of the year: 2014

See Also

In Spanish: Arjen Robben para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of athletes who came out of retirement