Every Defender’s Nightmare
Personal information
Full name: Arjen Robben
Date of birth: 23 January 1984
Age: 30
Place of birth: Bedum, Netherlands
Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position: Winger
Club information
Current team: Bayern Munich
Number: 10
Youth career
1989–1996: vv Bedum
1996–2000: Groningen
Senior career
2000–2002: Groningen 34 Appearances, 10 goals
2002–2004: PSV 75 Appearances, 22 goals
2004–2007: Chelsea 105 Appearances, 19 goals
2007–2009: Real Madrid 60 Appearances, 13 goals
2009– Bayern Munich 165 Appearances, 89 goals
National team
1999: Netherlands U15 1 Appearances, 0 goals
Arjen Robben was named man of the match for Holland in their final group game after a 2-0 win over Chile. Once again, the Bayern Munich flyer chipped in with an assist, for Memphis Depay and blitzed the opposition.
At 30 years of age, it is somewhat incredible that Robben still has the afterburners on at such an express rate. And, it seems likely that Robben will never grace a World Cup again in this form. He too has three goals under his belt, scoring two against Spain and one against Australia as well.
Robben’s frightening pace has already made Spanish and Australian defenders look like they’re treading water while he races to put the ball in the net. He became the fastest footballer in the world after a rapid sprint for Holland against Spain in their opening match. Robben looked as if he was embarrassing Sergio
Ramos when beating the hapless Spaniard in a straight foot race as Holland humiliated the world champions. The Real Madrid defender was left trailing in his wake as Robben stormed through; it appeared Ramos was leggy, only for FIFA statistics to later reveal that the 37km per hour sprint was the fastest ever recorded by a footballer. Iker Casillas could then only watch as the Dutchman danced beyond him to score his second sumptuous goal of the night. The 30-year-old has surpassed Theo Walcott’s previous record of 35.7kmph.
Addressing the issue on Twitter, Walcott said: Congrats for beating my clocked speed but thought it looked a bit downhill. #SpeedMatters. The Englishman obviously impressed but didn’t seem happy about it at all.
Whenever there is drama, you can almost guarantee that Arjen Robben is never too far away. Whether it be a missed penalty or the winning goal in the Champions League final, the Dutch winger has experienced both the highs and the lows associated with the beautiful game.
While he is as likely to thrill as he is to frustrate, there can be little doubt that Robben is one of the finest wingers of his generation. The fleet-footed wideman 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 pounds in the summer of 2004 that he truly hit the European stage.
After a delayed debut at Stamford 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 pound 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 as Real Madrid won the Primera Liga title ahead of the Catalans. However, 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 outfit Bayern Munich, where he gained a new lease of life, leading the side to the Bundesliga title in his first season, contributing 16 goals. Robben also scored in the DFB-Pokal final as Bayern beat Werder Bremen 4-0 and was duly named the 2010 Footballer of the Year in Germany. However, there was to be no treble – at least not this time around – as the Bavarians were defeated by Inter in the Champions League final.
The Dutch winger’s next two seasons were agonisingly hampered by injury and his misery was compounded in the 2012 Champions League final against former club Chelsea when he missed a spot kick in extra-time, before Chelsea went on to lift the trophy in a penalty shootout. Yet Robben would earn his redemption just one year later as he scored the winning goal in the 2013 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund to give the Bavarians their first European Cup triumph in 12 years and an unprecedented treble.
Robben always seems to play a leading role in the big matches and he again broke Dortmund hearts, this time in the 2013-14 DFB-Pokal final, to add to his third Bundesliga title in five years in Bavaria.
With 78 international caps to his name, Robben remains one of the first names on the Netherlands teamsheet and he was an inspirational member of the Oranje team that navigated their way to the 2010 World Cup final. The 30-year-old scored in the round of 16 encounter against Slovakia and the semi-final against Uruguay, but could not find the net in the final, missing two gilt-edged chances that could have sealed the Netherlands’ first World Cup triumph.
The year 2013 was Robben’s most prolific to date for the national side and Oranje eyes will be firmly focused upon their bald-headed winger as they seek to overcome all odds and take the World Cup after three unlucky finals.
Able to take on and beat defenders at the drop of a hat, Robben’s ability to get to the byline and deliver in accurate crosses or cut inside and bend a shot into the far corner instils fear into any defence. Pacey and creative, Robben is always a threat. The 2014 World Cup could prove to be Robben’s last and will provide him with the ideal opportunity to banish those demons of four years ago.