Arjen Robben is a famous winger playing for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. At Bayern he has rejuvenated his soccer career after being kind of slow while playing for Chelsea and Real Madrid. Arjen Robben (born January 23, 1984 in Bedum, Netherlands) is a footballer for the Netherlands national football team and Chelsea F.C.. Robben is known for his excellent ball technique, his game-breaking speed and his precise dribbling skills. He was the 2000-01 player of the year for F.C. Groningen and the 2002-03 Talent of the Year for PSV Eindhoven, both in the Dutch Eredivisie. He was also the November 2004 player of the month for Chelsea F.C. in the English Premier League.
Born in the town of Bedum in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands, Robben took to football from an early age. He began playing with local clubs C.V.V.B and V.V. Bedum. Robben became an adherent of the Coerver Method, created and popularized by Dutch football coach Wiel Coerver. Coerver’s method focused on precision ball control and fast, technical footwork. Robben’s skill in these areas made him a valuable player, and he was quickly signed by local club FC Groningen.
Squad No: 10
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28
Birth Date: Jan 23, 1984
Birth Place: Bedum, Netherlands
Height: 6' 0'' (1.83m)
Weight: 165 kg
Trivia
The winger spent the early part of his career with Groningen and PSV Eindhoven but it was not until he signed for Premier League side Chelsea for £12 million in the summer of 2004 that he truly hit the European stage. After a delayed debut at the Bridge due to a broken metatarsal, Robben then burst into the English game to damaging effect with performances full of speed and skill. Sadly for Robben that first season in London was probably his best as a series of injuries limited his involvement in a side which would win two Premier League titles.
He left Chelsea in 2007 to join Real Madrid in a £24 million deal. The Dutchman's first season in La Liga was spectacular, with the Spanish press locked in debate over whether Robben or Barcelona adversary Lionel Messi was the best player in the league. Real Madrid would win the Primera Liga title ahead of Barca.
Robben became one of the surprise casualties of Florentino Perez's new galacticos era at the Bernabeu in the summer of 2009. Though the left-winger did not want to leave the club he had no choice and moved to Bundesliga club Bayern Munich, where he gained a new lease of life, leading the side to the title in his first season.
Is a midfield soccer player for Chelsea FC and Holland. As of May 2008, he has 31 international caps and has scored 8 goals. Clubs include: FC Groningen (2000-2001), PSV Eindhoven (2001-2004) & Chelsea FC (2004-present). Won the FA Premier League with Chelsea in 2005 & 2006, and the League Cup in 2005 also.
He currently has a girlfriend named Bernadien, whom he met at high school in Groningen, at the Kamerlingh Onnes.
His father, Hans, acts as his agent. In addition to being a talented football player, Robben is quite adept at chess.
He and his girlfriend Bernardien are expecting their first baby in May 2008.
After Chelsea (England) he transferred to Real Madrid (Spain), where he played until August 2009. Then he was transferred to Bayern Munchen (Germany) where he will be reunited with old Holland bonds-coach Louis van Gaal.
Controversies
Robben has been involved in several controversies in his career and has developed a reputation as a “diver” for his dramatic reactions to challenges. His reputation developed after an exaggerated fall against Portugal in Holland’s Euro 2004 semi-final defeat. Since then, several English Premier League managers have spoken out against the ease with which Robben seems to go down. Two recent incidents illustrate the controversy that Robben has endured. First, he was sent off in Chelsea’s match against Sunderland on 15 January 2006 for “overcelebrating.” After scoring the winning goal, he received a second yellow card for jumping over advertising boards to celebrate with the Chelsea fans. In a 2-0 league win over rivals Liverpool, Robben overreacted to a confrontation with goalkeeper Jose Reina who – while already in trouble for a poor challenge on Eiður Guðjohnsen – shoved his hand in the Dutchman’s face. Reina, in an interview with the Daily Star of London, insisted that Robben was “an actor” who “deserved an Oscar,”
In March 2006, Robben was sent off for a controversial tackle on West Bromwich Albion’s Jonathan Greening during a Premiership game. In the World Cup 2006 match against Ivory Coast, he received a yellow card and a fine for a dive in the box.
In response to these incidents and others through his career, Robben has publicly vowed to change his reputation as a diver. Chelsea F.C. manager José Mourinho has stopped short of rebuking Robben, but has admitted he fears that Robben’s behavior might attract more penalty cards.
F.C. Groningen
2000-2001
F.C. Groningen placed Robben in their C-class youth team for the 1999/2000 season. He scored an impressive 50 goals in their competitions. Manager Jan Van Dijk added the talented winger to the first team before Groningen’s November 2000 away game against F.C. Twente, but he did not play until December 3, 2000 against RKC 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 2 goals. Robben was named player of the year for his first season with the big 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 6 goals. Robben transferred to PSV Eindhoven for €4.2 million before the 2002-03 season.
PSV Eindhoven
2001-2004
During his first season for PSV Eindhoven, Robben appeared to justify the high transfer price he commanded. Just 18 when the 2002-03 season started, Robben played in 33 matches and scored 12 goals. He was named PSV’s co-player of the year along with striker Mateja Kežman. He helped lead PSV to their 17th Dutch title, and won the Talent of the Year award.
After this good start, PSV could not keep up with rival AFC Ajax and were forced into a fight for second place in the Eredivisie. A transfer rumour linked him to Real Madrid. However, Robben’s agent (his father, Hans Robben) said “Real Madrid also want him but he won’t go to Real. What is the point? It is not the place for a young boy like my son. And he never liked Real anyway. When we were on holiday in Spain, he only liked Barcelona.” Arjen traveled to London and met with Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson. After that meeting, Robben said that moving to the English club would be a dream come true. Ferguson’s offer came in much too low for PSV’s and/or Robben’s liking; Eindhoven 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 Robben accepted. The rest of his season with PSV was very disappointing. He injured his hamstring twice and missed several games, and also received criticism for his “poor manners” from PSV trainer Guus Hiddink, in reference to his somewhat dramatic dives and appeals for yellow cards. This would not be the last time Robben was accused of such tactics. At the end of the 2003-04 season, Robben tallied only 23 appearances and 6 goals. However, he was clearly regarded as a dominant force, and was ready to claim the left wing for Chelsea in 2004-05.
Chelsea F.C.
2004 – 2005
Robben did not make his competitive debut for Chelsea F.C. until November 2004, as he was injured in a pre-season friendly match against A.S. Roma, breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot in a strong challenge from Roma’s Olivier Dacourt. Robben missed many games due to injury in 2004-05, managing to play in only 18 games, the fewest of his professional career since his debut in 2000-01 with FC Groningen. The 2004-05 season had some highlights for Robben; in November 2004, he was awarded the prestigious “Player of the Month” award for the English Premier League. Robben ended the 2004-05 season with 7 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. His early Chelsea career was punctuated by dazzling displays as one of few ‘out and out’ wingers in the English game. His instant relationship with Damien Duff was perhaps the most prevalent consequence of Robben’s arrival.
2005 – 2006
Back to fitness for 2005-06, Robben has been an integral part of the Chelsea left wing. In 20 matches, Robben scored 5 goals and 3 assists.
The 2005-06 season also saw Robben receive the first two red cards of his career, against Sunderland and West Brom. In addition, he was involved in an unsavoury incident with Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, which resulted in Reina getting sent off and Robben accused of being a play-actor.
2006 – 2007
After a world cup where some startling performances on the left wing for the Netherlands brought universal acclaim, the diminutive winger has had limited chances to shine in a new look Chelsea squad. With the arrivals of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack the 4-3-3 formation with 2 wingers has been passed over for a 4-4-2 formation. This has often seen Robben on the bench and given little time to make an impression. However, Jose Mourinho has recently given Robben more opportunities either playing just off a lone striker or as a winger in the previous 4-3-3 formation. His reputation as a ‘diver’ still looms over his head and he is possibly unfairly ostracised when he goes down to ground. The fact remains that Robben is one of the most dangerous players in the premiership but his future role at Chelsea is unknown especially after the departure of fellow winger Damien Duff.
International career
Robben has played in 22 games for the Netherlands, scoring 8 goals. The first international experience of Robben’s career came in Euro 2004, as the Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. During Euro 2004 Dutch coach Dick Advocaat substituted Robben in the 66th minute with a 2-1 lead over the Czech Republic. The Czech team scored two goals and won 3-2, leading to criticism. Advocaat’s decision has since been called “The Substitution” by Dutch soccer fans. In the same tournament, it was Arjen who scored the deciding penalty in the shootout between Holland and Sweden, which ensured that at the fifth attempt, the Dutch finally won a penalty shootout. Robben played in his first World Cup Qualifiers in 2006. In 6 games for the Netherlands, Robben scored 2 goals. The Netherlands qualified for the World Cup in 2006 and in Holland’s opening match against Serbia and Montenegro, Robben scored the winning goal in the 18th minute, and was named the man of the match.
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