Arjen Robben: Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich winger retires at 35

Last updated on 4 July 2019.From the section European Football163

Former Bayern Munich and Chelsea winger Arjen Robben has retired at the age of 35.

The ex-Netherlands international, whose Bayern contract expired in June, was hampered by injuries last season.

Robben also played for Real Madrid and PSV, having started his career at Dutch side FC Groningen 19 years ago.

He won trophies at every club he played for, including eight Bundesliga titles at Bayern and the Premier League with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006.

Robben also won the Champions League with Bayern in 2013.

Robben made his name at Chelsea, joining them from Groningen in 2004 and going on to make 105 league appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals.

In addition to back-to-back Premier League titles, he also won the FA Cup in 2007 and the League Cup twice.

Robben joined Real Madrid in 2007, helping them win the La Liga title in his first season before joining Bayern Munich for the 2009-10 campaign.

The Dutchman was capped 96 times by the Netherlands, receiving a World Cup runners-up medal in 2010 after they were beaten by Spain in the final in South Africa.

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163 comments

Comment posted by 3EyedCraven, at 17:59 4 Jul 2019
What a player. Everyone knew he was going to cut in from the right & curl into the top corner with his left. Nobody could stop it.

Legend of his era
Comment posted by Alexandre LackOfThreat, at 18:01 4 Jul 2019
Brilliant player to watch and a nightmare for any defence. Sad to see the Dutch old guard of Sneijder, van Persie, Huntelaar and Robben coming to the end of their careers.
Comment posted by hoowie, at 17:51 4 Jul 2019
I was always terrified when he ran with the ball against a team I wanted to win. No better compliment, I suppose.

Will never forget that volley against Manchester United in the Champions League.
Comment posted by soothsayer, at 18:42 4 Jul 2019
Class player
One of the best
Comment posted by fallingintheTunbridgeWells, at 17:56 4 Jul 2019
A very fine player. The end of Bayern´s "Robery".
Comment posted by jrt32, at 18:10 4 Jul 2019
The obsessives are back. 4 comments in. 3 mention man United.
Comment posted by chop, at 21:20 4 Jul 2019
Retired just as VAR being introduced.....very timely for a serial diver
Comment posted by maelstrang, at 18:31 4 Jul 2019
One of the best players to arrive at Chelsea, pretty key to the systems that Mourinho was playing. Still shocked that Real decided to jetison him instead of trying to pair him with Ronaldo.

As it is he's won pretty much everything in club football that he's competed in, so at this point he can look back on a fantastic career and enjoy a well-earned retirement.
Comment posted by BBQsausage, at 18:04 4 Jul 2019
Great career and won lots, but I never liked the guy.

Massive diver and con artist.
Comment posted by D1679297143710, at 18:23 4 Jul 2019
The BBC have got the headline wrong. It should be just "Bayern Legend Robben retires . Chelsea shouldn't even be in the same sentence as they was only a stepping stone in his career. Bayern is the club he flourished after his spell at Real Madrid which was a giant leap from that London club.
Comment posted by Johnvaughan1965, at 22:33 4 Jul 2019
Met him once at Schipol airport in 2007. Total gentleman and signed a boarding card for my son. I'm not a Chelsea fan, but even the most hardened of Arsenal fans like me could admire his genius. He was a brilliant footballer and the game has lost a true great with him retiring. I hope he goes on to have a great life post-football. Laters Arjen and 'Prost'!
Comment posted by Dave, at 21:17 4 Jul 2019
I'm not a Chelsea fan (or supporter of any of his clubs) but pleased I saw him play outstandingly for Netherlands against Wales in Cardiff just a couple of years ago and score twice - one a Robben classic. A brilliant player.
Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 20:25 4 Jul 2019
To balance out 61 and 62 I have to say- I thought Arjen Robben was a brilliant player. A thrilling winger to watch, direct with electric pace.

Yes he loved a dive too but he was a serial botherer of defenders generally. The sort of forward they hate to play against. How many times did you see him score the same type of goal- a breakaway run, cutting in on his favoured left foot and scoring.
Comment posted by GB1978, at 19:14 4 Jul 2019
Saw him tear my Newcastle apart many times. Such a good player and pretty underrated really for how dangerous he was.
Comment posted by Dave, at 13:26 5 Jul 2019
Here, do you remember the time he cut in from the right and shot with the left peg into the bottom corner.... Literally did the same thing over and over and defenders knew what he would do but he could still rarely be stopped. Fair play.Top player.
Comment posted by Geezer Lemon Squeezer, at 09:36 5 Jul 2019
A great player on his day and terrific on the wing. Loved his first season at Chelsea and some of the goals he scored and link up play with Duff. Proper winger, only bettered by his time at BM and playing with Ribery. Top footballer, enjoy retirement!
Comment posted by Harry Decheiver, at 20:55 4 Jul 2019
People calling Robben anti-sportsman don’t know what they are talking about. He was always completely magnanimous in victory and defeat. His interviews were always v gracious and articulate: a smart, multilingual, good guy.

And honestly, if you think Robben dived when he was constantly felled by opponents who couldn’t deal with his pace and skills, well look to the England for serial divers.
Comment posted by U17612387, at 19:13 4 Jul 2019
I almost got him mixed up with Franck Ribery.

Robben a legend.

Ribery a dirty old man. Not unlike Rod Stewart.
Comment posted by Le Chat, at 18:31 4 Jul 2019
Robben was always wonderful to watch. Got better with age unlike most. The moment he would move the ball to his left foot, there was always the chance of seeing a delightful goal.

Robbery will be missed
Comment posted by merryjimbhoy, at 18:35 4 Jul 2019
What a player, saw him play for Bayern in Allianz Arena. A very happy memory