Arjen Robben (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑrjən ˈrɔbə(n)]; born 23 January 1984) is a Dutchfootballer who plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards (inside position) as awinger, and he is also known for his dribbling skills, speed, crossing ability and his accurate left foot long-range shot from the right wing. He is also a part of theNetherlands national team and has appeared at Euro 2004, the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Robben first came to prominence with Groningen, for whom he was player of the year for the 2000–01 Eredivisie season. Two years later he signed for PSV, where he became the Netherlands' Young Player of the Year and won an Eredivisie title.[2] The following season Robben's signature was pursued by leading English clubs, and after protracted transfer negotiations he joined Chelsea in the 2004 close season.
Robben's Chelsea debut was delayed through injury, but upon returning to fitness he helped Chelsea to consecutive Premier League titles, and was the FA Premier League Player of the Month in November 2005.[3][4] After a third season in England which was punctuated by injury, Robben moved to Spanish club Real Madrid for €35 million. In August 2009, Robben transferred to Bayern Munich for a fee of around €25 million,[5]scoring two goals on his debut. In his first season in Munich, Bayern won the league title, Robben's fifth league title in eight years, and got to the Champions League final. After his first season with the Bavarian club, the player was also named Footballer of the Year in Germany.[6]
Early football life
Robben was born in Bedum, a satellite town of Groningen in north-eastern Netherlands. He took to football from an early age, becoming an adherent of theCoerver Method.[7] Robben's skill in ball control and technical footwork made him a valuable player, and he was quickly signed by regional club FC Groningen. Here, he developed his distinctive style of cutting inside from the right onto his left foot to score some quite spectacular goals.[8]
Club career
Groningen
Groningen placed Robben in their first team for the 1999–2000 season. He scored 3 goals in league play. Manager Jan van Dijk added the winger to the first team before Groningen's November 2000 away game against Twente, but he did not play until 3 December 2000 against Waalwijk, as a substitute for the injured Leonardo dos Santos in the 79th minute. Over the winter, Robben managed to play himself into the starting lineup. In 18 starts for Groningen over the 2000–01 season, he scored two goals.[9] 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. Robben stayed with Groningen and improved steadily during the 2001–02 season, playing in 28 matches and scoring six goals.[9] Robben transferred to PSV for €3.9 million before the 2002–03 season.[2]
PSV
During his first season for PSV, the 2002–03 season, Robben played 33 matches and scored 12 goals.[9] He was named "PSV co-player of the year" along with striker Mateja Kežman, with whom he formed an attacking partnership still fondly referred to by PSV fans as "Batman and Robben".[10] He helped lead PSV to their 17th Dutch title, and won the Talented Player of the Year award.[11] After this good start, PSV could not keep up with rival Ajax and were forced into a fight for second place in the Eredivisie. Robben travelled to London and met with Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson's offer came in much too low for PSV's and Robben's liking; PSV chairman Harry van Raaij told Manchester United the most that their €7 million offer would buy them was a shirt with Robben's autograph. Almost immediately, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich offered €18 million (£12.1 million), and PSV accepted.[12]The rest of his season with PSV was disappointing. He injured his hamstring twice and missed several games.[13][14] By the end of the season, Robben scored five times in 23 Eredivisie matches.[9]
Chelsea
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.[3] During this time, he told club doctors that he had noticed an unfamiliar growth on one of his testicles. The medical team quickly did tests to check fortesticular cancer, but he was subsequently given the all clear.[15]
Robben proved to be a crucial player for the 2004–05 season; in November 2004, he was awarded the FA Premier League "Player of the Month" award.[3][4] Robben ended the 2004–05 season with seven goals, his second highest professional total. He was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year, but was beaten by Wayne Rooney of Manchester United.[16][17]Robben was badly injured in a league game away to Blackburn Rovers and forced to sit out Chelsea's title run-in and progress to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.[18] Back to fitness for 2005–06, Robben was an integral part of the Chelsea left wing. In 28 matches, Robben contributed six goals as Chelsea won a second consecutive Premier Leaguechampionship, the first back-to-back titles for the west London club.[9]
The 2005–06 season saw Robben involved in an unsporting incident with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Towards the end of a league game between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea won 2–0, Reina shoved his hand in Robben's face after some provocative words from Robben. Robben fell theatrically to the turf, and Reina received a red card for "violent behaviour", as violent conduct is illegal. As a result of the incident Reina commented that Robben "did well enough to win anOscar" for his theatrics. Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez later joked in a post-match interview that he "would soon be going to hospital to check on Robben's condition". Reina's red card was not rescinded.[19] Robben was later named man of the match on 23 December 2006 against Wigan, a match where he got two assists and the winning goal.[20]
Robben was inflicted with yet another injury in a match against Liverpool on 20 January 2007.[21]Robben made his return in a 3–0 victory against Middlesbrough in February driving in a shot that took a deflection past Mark Schwarzer for an own goal by Abel Xavier.[22] He came on as a substitute forClaude Makelele in the 2007 League Cup Final against Arsenal and set up the winning goal for Didier Drogba.[23] Robben scored a goal in the second round of the UEFA Champions League against Porto, which led to Chelsea winning the tie 3–2 on aggregate. At the end of March 2007, Robben underwent a knee operation after sustaining a knee injury upon returning from international duty that was expected to rule him out for at least four weeks.[24] He only made two further appearances for Chelsea, both of which were as a substitute[25] and both of which would prove to be key games for the club. His first appearance since returning from injury was against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg which went to penalties. Robben went on to have his penalty saved by Pepe Reina, and Chelsea ultimately lost.[26] His final appearance for the club came against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup Final. Robben replaced Joe Cole at half time, but was then subsequently substituted himself for Ashley Cole in extra time as Chelsea emerged victorious.[27] Spanish club Real Madrid were interested in two of Chelsea's players. Then manager Bernd Schuster is said to have demanded Michael Ballack, while Madrid's former president, Ramón Calderón, was known to favour Robben.[28] Robben said to reporters of Spanish newspaper AS: "I do not know when a deal will be reached. I would like to send a message to the Madrid fans, but I can't until my future is sorted."[29][30]
Real Madrid eventually secured Robben's services in August 2007.[31] He told Chelsea's official club website: "It was difficult to leave because I had a great time in my three years at Chelsea and I made a lot of friends. There was no time to say goodbye because the deal was closed on the Wednesday at 10 o'clock in the evening and the following morning I had to fly. If I have one day off I would want to come back and say goodbye because to the fans I owe a big thank you because they were always good to me. In my three years I won all the prizes there are to win in England."[32]
Real Madrid
Robben completed his move to Real Madrid on a five-year deal on 22 August 2007,[33]with the transfer fee reported as £24 million[34][35] (€35 million). He made his debut on 18 September as a substitute for Raúl during a Champions League match against Werder Bremen, which Real Madrid won 2–1.[36] His league debut came on 23 September, this time as a substitute for Royston Drenthe in a 1–1 away draw against Valladolid.[37] On 10 February 2008, Robben scored his first goal, this time at home in a 7–0 victory against Valladolid.[38] 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. Real Madrid won the league title with some games to spare, and were already the champions of Spain when they played their arch-rivals FC Barcelona on 7 May 2008. The Barcelona players formed a guard of honor as the Madrid team came onto the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu, and Robben played an important part in Real Madrid's subsequent 4–1 victory, scoring the champions' second goal.[39]
He retained his key role in the Real Madrid midfield during the 2008–09 season, playing 35 times and scoring eight goals. Although the Dutchman was one of the Spanish side's most important players in the pre-season games leading up to the 2009–10 season, having scored three goals and help set up another four, he was among the players whose place in the first team became threatened following the arrival of Florentino Pérez and the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká. Real Madrid accepted a bid of around €25 million for Robben from Bayern Munich.[40][41] Robben claimed he was "forced" to leave Real Madrid, saying that he "didn't want to go, but the club wanted to sell him".[42]
Bayern Munich
On 28 August 2009, Robben moved to Bayern Munich for around €25 million. He was given the number 10 shirt, last worn by his fellowDutchman, Roy Makaay.[43][44] His debut came the day after. He came on as a half-time substitute against Wolfsburg, scored two goals, and helped his team beat last season's champions in Bayern's first win of the season.[45][46] On 9 March 2010, Robben scored the deciding goal in Bayern's 2–3 defeat (4–4 on aggregate over two legs) against Fiorentina, taking them through to the quarter finals of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League on away goals.[47]
On 7 April 2010, Robben sent Bayern Munich into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a stunning volley againstManchester United from the edge of the area into the corner of the net. The game ended 3–2 to United (4–4 on aggregate) with Bayern advancing again due to away goals.[48]
On 17 April 2010, he scored his first hat-trick in the Bundesliga against Hannover 96 in the Allianz Arena. The game ended 7–0 to the Bavarians.[49] On 8 May 2010, he won his first Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich after scoring two goals in their 3–1 victory over Hertha BSC Berlin, finishing as Bayern's top scorer in the process.[50]
A week later, Bayern Munich played in the DFB-Pokal Final against the previous champions of the tournament, Werder Bremen, inBerlin's Olympiastadion. Bayern Munich won the game by 4–0; Arjen Robben scored the first of those four goals from a penalty kick. Robben thus helped the Bavarians achieve their fifteenth DFB Pokal title. On 25 May 2010, Robben was named Footballer of the Year in Germany for the year 2010.[51] He won the election by attaining a record 72.1% of the vote and was the first Dutch person to win this election.
The 2010–11 season started badly for Robben, after medical tests confirmed that his hamstring had not properly healed and that he would be out for two months.[52] Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that "Of course, Bayern Munich are very angry" with the Dutch FA, and would be seeking compensation from them, continuing "Once again we must pay the bill as a club after a player is seriously injured playing for a national team."[52] On 15 January 2011, he returned to first team action, coming on as a substitute in the 1–1 away draw with VfL Wolfsburg.
Robben was nominated for the "UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder", but this 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 goes to the best goal of the year, and he has also been nominated for FIFA’s "FIFPro World XI 2010" squad, thanks to his fantastic season with Bayern Munich.
On 3 May 2012 it was reported that Robben has signed a new contract with Bayern which will last till 2015.[53]
In the second leg of the semi-finals of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League, against his former club Real Madrid which was now managed by Jose Mourinho(who had been his manager at Chelsea), after Bayern initially fell behind 2–0, Robben converted a penalty to level the tie at 3–3. Bayern advanced to the final after winning the shootout.[54]
Robben had an extra-time penalty saved by former teammate Petr Čech in the2012 UEFA Champions League Final at the Allianz Arena against Chelsea. Had the penalty gone in, Bayern Munich would have led Chelsea 2–1. However the match ended in a penalty shootout which Chelsea won.[55] That was the fourth major cup final that he had been on the losing side during the last two years (World Cup final, two Champions League finals and the DFB Pokal). Three days later in the same stadium while playing as a second half substitute for the Netherlands in a friendly against Bayern Munich, he was jeered by some disgruntled Bayern Munich fans every time he touched the ball (due to his penalty miss in the Champions League final, and as he did not play on Bayern's side during that match due to a decision taken by Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk).[56] The match had been organized to compensate Bayern, since Robben aggravated an injury playing for the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup, and went on to miss several months of the 2010–11 season.[57]
Style of play
Robben has tremendous speed on the ball which gives him the edge as a winger. His is famous for sprinting down the wing and then cutting in on his left foot past defenders. Then when he has space he fires a low, powerful, accurate shot in the corner. The majority if his goals follow this pattern. Despite being notorious for the maneuver he also has ability in the air and can deliver a spectacular volley.
One of his more underrated playing technics is his 'play making' ability. At Bayern Munich, he often converges from his comfortable right wing position to a central attacking midfielder role. In this role he sets up attacking plays and assists the forwards. He often, in a match, will drift even further to the left wing to confuse the defense and at the same time provide support to his wing colleague, Franck Ribéry, and also to supply fellow attackers with accurate crosses.
Another factor in his playing style is his relationship with the right-fullback. At Bayern, this partnership with Philipp Lahm has had huge benefits for the team's efficiency and chemistry. Robben and Lahm exchange short, staccato like passes in order to break down defense. If Robben does not execute his typical long range shot, he often sets Lahm up with space to cross. Robben often covers for his partner when he pushes forward and becomes a temporary right back.
International career
Euro 2004
Robben has played in 52 games for the Netherlands, scoring 16 goals. The first international experience of Robben's career came inEuro 2004 when manager Dick Advocaat called up younger players, such as Wesley Sneijder and John Heitinga. During Euro 2004, Advocaat substituted Robben in the 66th minute to defend a 2–1 lead over the Czech Republic. However, the Czech team then scored two goals and won 3–2, which led to criticism about Advocaat's decision.[58] In the same tournament, it was Robben, who scored the deciding penalty in the shootout between the Netherlands and Sweden, which ensured that at the fifth attempt, the Dutch finally won a penalty shootout.[59]
2006 World Cup
Robben played in his first 2006 World Cup qualifier in 2006. In six games for the Netherlands, Robben scored two goals.[60] The Netherlands qualified for the World Cup in 2006 and in the Netherlands opening match against Serbia and Montenegro, Robben scored the winning goal in the 18th minute, and was named the Man of the match. In the match against Côte d'Ivoire, Robben received this award the second time, thus becoming one of the eight players in the tournament to have won the Man of the Match Award more than once.[61]
Euro 2008
During the Euro 2008, manager Marco van Basten changed the formation to 4–2–3–1, preferring the midfield trio of Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt. Robben was left to battle it out with Robin van Persie for a place on the wing. In the group match against France, which the Netherlands won 4–1, Robben was brought on at half-time. He 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 Grégory Coupet, who did well enough to get a hand onto it. At 2–0, Thierry Henry scored a goal, making it 2–1, and almost directly after the restart, Robben was played through by Sneijder and he ran at the France goal and was forced into an acute angle, but despite the angle, he shot the ball into the net past Coupet.
2010 World Cup
Robben was selected by the Netherlands managerBert van Marwijk for the final squad of 23 for the World Cup.[62][63] In the last friendly match against Hungary, just before the flight to South Africa on 4 June, Robben fell awkwardly towards the end of the match, and picked up a hamstring injury which caused concern over his fitness for the world cup.[64] On 5 June, Van Marwijk announced that he'd "decided not to summon any substitute for Arjen. I want to give him every chance to still participate in the World Cup."[65] On 12 June 2010, Arjen arrived in South Africa to join the team.[66] He was an unused substitute for the opening game against Denmark as they coasted to a 2–0 victory, and again in the 1–0 victory against Japan. He came on in the 73rd minute against Cameroon in their 2–1 victory, hitting the post from which Klaas-Jan Huntelaarscored from the rebound.[67] On 28 June 2010, he started his first match againstSlovakia in which he went on to score the first goal in the second round as the Netherlands won 2–1. He also went on to pick up the man of the match award.[68]Robben scored the third goal with a well-placed header in the semi-finals againstUruguay which the Netherlands won 3–2 to reach the final.[69] Robben played for the full match in the final as the Netherlands lost 1–0 to Spain.[70] Robben was also nominated for the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball, the tournament's best player, which was won by Diego Forlán.
Euro 2012
Robben was selected to play for the Netherlands at Euro 2012. He started in the first group stage match, a 1–0 loss to Denmark, in which he hit the post with a good curled effort. In the next match, a 2–1 loss to Germany, he hopped over the advertising boards and walked the long way round after being subbed off for Dirk Kuyt because he thought he could have inspired the Netherlands to a win. So after two group stage losses, they needed a win by two goals over Portugal and needed Germany to beat Denmark to have a chance of qualifying. Unfortunately, they lost 2–1 and were kicked out of the tournament.
Personal life
Robben married his girlfriend Bernadien Eillert on 9 June 2007 in Groningen.[71] The two met while in high school in the city, at the Kamerlingh Onnes,[72] and have two sons, Luka born in 2008 and Kai born 2012 and a daughter, Lynn born in 2010.[73][74] Robben's father, Hans, acts as his agent.[75]
The circumstances of Arjen and Bernadien's first meeting have been reported by his former youth coach, Barend Beltman. 'Arjen was driven and determined at a young age. He was always on time, never late. But one Friday afternoon he showed up 15 minutes past the start of practice. I asked him what was going on. "We were at the market square, having fun", he said. There were some girls with him and his friends, so I asked, "Was she worth it?" "Yes, trainer, she was", he told me. I told him to get his gear and join the training session. At his wedding, I heard the woman he met that day was now his wife and mother of his children. Bernadien is her name.'[76]
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