Arjen Robben retires for the second time aged 37 after battling injuries at Dutch club Groningen as ex-Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Holland star definitively hangs up his boots after stellar career
- Arjen Robben has retired from playing football for the second time at age of 37
- He originally called it a day in July 2019 but returned to former club Groningen
- But after an injury-plagued Eredivisie season he has finally hung up his boots
- The Dutch winger enjoyed a stellar career and won league titles in four countries
- He helped Holland to the World Cup final in 2010 where they lost to Spain
- Robben won Champions League at Bayern Munich amid host of other medals
Arjen Robben has retired from football for the second time after deciding not to spend a second season playing for Dutch club Groningen.
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich winger, who made 96 appearances for Holland, thanked fans for the ‘heartwarming support’ after confirming his decision on Twitter.
Robben, 37, originally hung up his boots in July 2019 after leaving Bayern but decided to return to the game in June 2020 and return to his first club Groningen.
Arjen Robben has announced he is definitely retiring from playing football at the age of 37
The Dutch winger had retired in 2019 only to reverse his decision and return to Groningen
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star won every major club honour
But after playing only a handful of games for the Eredivisie side, he has now definitely decided to quit as a player.
Robben wrote: ‘Dear football friends, I have decided to stop my active football career. A very difficult choice. I want to thank everyone for all the heart-warming support.’
It brings the curtain down on an outstanding career that saw Robben win league titles in England, Holland, Spain and Germany as well as help his country to a World Cup final.
He was also part of the Bayern Munich team that won the Champions League in 2013, scoring a last-minute winner to defeat Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Robben scored a late winner as Bayern Munich claimed the Champions League in 2013
The winger helped Chelsea win back-to-back Premier League titles while in England
A quick and skilful winger, Robben made a habit of cutting infield onto his left foot and curling shots into the top corner.
Though his time at Stamford Bridge was punctuated by injuries, Robben helped Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho as well as the FA Cup and two League Cups.
But his greatest success came in Munich, where he won eight Bundesliga titles, five German Cups and the UEFA Super Cup.
Robben helped Holland to the final of the 2010 World Cup but they were defeated by Spain
He reversed his original decision to retire to play for his first club Groningen last season
Arjen Robben wiped away the tears as he discussed his injury hell at the end of the season
He was an integral part of the Dutch team that reached the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, losing 1-0 to Spain. They followed that up by finishing third at the 2014 finals in Brazil.
In total, Robben scored 37 times in 96 games for the Oranje, while his club record for Groningen, PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich stands at 209 goals and 193 assists in 614 matches.
Speculation had grown that Robben would again call time on his playing career after injuries hindered his second spell at Groningen, who finished seventh in the regular Eredivisie season.
