63 Facts About Arjen Robben

Arjen Robben is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Arjen Robben was known for his dribbling skills, speed, ball control and long-range shots.

Arjen Robben scored the winning goal in the 2013 UEFA Champions League final, being named to the Squad of the Season.

On 15 July 2021, Arjen Robben announced his retirement from professional football.

Arjen Robben started in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, which the Netherlands lost to Spain.

Arjen Robben appeared at the 2004,2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships, and the 2006 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.

Arjen Robben took to football from an early age, becoming an adherent of the Coerver Method.

Arjen Robben was named player of the year for his first season with the club, and with teammate Jordi Hoogstrate, he demonstrated the strength of the Groningen youth academy.

Arjen Robben was named "PSV co-player of the year" along with striker Mateja Kezman, with whom he formed an attacking partnership still fondly referred to by PSV fans as "Batman and Robben".

Arjen Robben helped lead PSV to their 17th Dutch title, and won the Talented Player of the Year award.

Arjen Robben travelled to London and met with Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson.

Arjen Robben did not make his competitive debut for Chelsea until November 2004, as he was injured in a pre-season friendly match against Roma, breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot in a challenge from Olivier Dacourt.

Arjen Robben was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year, but was beaten by Manchester United's Wayne Rooney.

Arjen Robben was badly injured in a Premier League match away to Blackburn Rovers and forced to sit out the 2005 Football League Cup Final, Chelsea's title run-in and progress to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

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

Arjen Robben was inflicted with yet another injury in a match against Liverpool on 20 January 2007.

Arjen Robben came on as a substitute for Claude Makelele in the 2007 League Cup final against Arsenal and set up the winning goal for Didier Drogba.

Arjen Robben only made two further appearances for Chelsea, both of which were as a substitute and both of which would prove to be key games for the club.

Arjen Robben went on to have his penalty saved by Pepe Reina, and Chelsea ultimately lost.

Arjen Robben replaced Joe Cole at half-time, but was then substituted himself for Ashley Cole in extra time as Chelsea emerged victorious.

Arjen Robben proved crucial for many Real Madrid matches, making his famous runs down the left wing and quickly became a first choice for the left midfield position, making 28 appearances during his debut season and scoring five goals.

Arjen Robben claimed he was "forced" to leave Real Madrid, saying that he "didn't want to go, but the club wanted to sell him".

Arjen Robben was given the number 10 jersey, last worn by his fellow Dutchman, Roy Makaay.

On 7 April 2010, Arjen Robben sent Bayern into the semi-finals of the Champions League with a stunning volley against Manchester United from the edge of the area into the corner of the net.

Arjen Robben thus helped the Bavarians achieve their 15th DFB-Pokal title.

On 25 May 2010, Arjen Robben was named Footballer of the Year in Germany for 2010.

Arjen Robben was the fourth foreigner and the first Dutchman to win the title.

Arjen Robben was nominated for the UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder award, but the award went to his international compatriot Wesley Sneijder.

Arjen Robben has been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award and the FIFA Puskas Award, which goes to the best goal of the year, and he has been nominated for FIFA's FIFPro World XI 2010 squad thanks to his season with Bayern Munich.

On 3 May 2012, it was reported that Arjen Robben had signed a new contract with Bayern which would last until 2015.

Arjen Robben had an extra-time penalty saved by former teammate Petr Cech in the 2012 Champions League final at the Allianz Arena against Chelsea.

Arjen Robben had started the season on the bench, as manager Jupp Heynckes preferred to start Thomas Muller on the right wing, with Toni Kroos at the attacking midfielder position.

Arjen Robben had played through the season as a substitute, but earned his chance to start again after Kroos was injured during the Champions League tie against Juventus.

Arjen Robben started on the right wing for the rest of the season, having moved Muller back to the middle.

Arjen Robben started against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal and scored the game's lone goal in the 43rd minute.

Arjen Robben went on to score two further goals during the Champions League group stage; in away wins against Manchester City and CSKA as Bayern finished as group winners.

Arjen Robben's goal made him the first player to score in three separate DFB-Pokal finals.

On 13 July, after winning the third place match at the 2014 World Cup, Louis van Gaal invited Arjen Robben to follow him to Manchester United, but the latter ruled out the move.

On 16 December 2014, Arjen Robben scored his 100th competitive goal for Bayern Munich in a home match against SC Freiburg.

Arjen Robben, recovering from his injury, was chosen for a friendly against SV Lippstadt 08.

Arjen Robben scored a goal, shortly before being substituted because of another injury in the 36th minute.

Arjen Robben won his seventh Bundesliga title and set a Dutch record by winning his 11th career domestic league title surpassing Dutch legend Johan Cruyff's 10 career domestic league titles.

On 4 July 2019, Arjen Robben announced his decision to retire from football.

On 27 June 2020, Arjen Robben announced his return to the game, signing with FC Groningen, the club he started his career with, in an effort to help the team recover from COVID-19 setbacks.

Arjen Robben scored his first goal for Groningen in a pre-season friendly against Arminia Bielefeld.

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

Arjen Robben played in his first 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2006.

In six games for the Netherlands, Arjen Robben scored two goals.

The Netherlands qualified for the 2006 World Cup and in their opening match against Serbia and Montenegro, Arjen Robben scored the winning goal in the 18th minute, and was named the Player of the match.

Arjen Robben dragged the ball out of reach of a defender near the half-way line and paced his way ahead of three defenders, then crossed straight to Van Persie, who powered a shot into the goal past France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.

Arjen Robben was selected by new manager Bert van Marwijk for the final 23-man Dutch squad for the 2010 World Cup.

Arjen Robben had Netherlands's best opportunity of the match when played in on goal by Wesley Sneijder in the 62nd minute of the match, but was denied by Iker Casillas.

Arjen Robben was nominated for the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball, the tournament's best player, which was won by Diego Forlan.

Arjen Robben was selected to play for the Netherlands at Euro 2012.

The Associated Press said that Arjen Robben's "theatrical" fall "did little to defuse the debate about his reputation for diving".

On 28 August 2015, Arjen Robben was named captain of the Netherlands, replacing Robin van Persie.

On 10 October 2017, Arjen Robben retired from international football after the team's unsuccessful 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Arjen Robben collected 96 caps between 2003 and 2017 for the Oranje and scored 37 goals.

Arjen Robben has been often accused of diving, and he has at times openly admitted to the charges.

Arjen Robben married his girlfriend Bernadien Eillert on 9 June 2007 in Groningen.

Arjen Robben has a sponsorship deal with German sportswear and equipment supplier Adidas.

Arjen Robben scored his first ever international goal in October 2003 during a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Moldova.

Arjen Robben ultimately decided to retire from international duty in 2017 following their unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.