Arjen Robben(pronounced Ar-yan Rob-ben) (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.
Early football life
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.[1] 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.
Club career
F.C. Groningen
(2000-2002)
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.[2][3] 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.[3]
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.[4] Robben transferred
to PSV Eindhoven for €4.2 million before the 2002-03 season.
PSV Eindhoven
(2002-2004)
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 Ke?man. He helped lead PSV to their 17th Dutch
title, and won the Talent of the Year award.[3]
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."[5] 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.[3] 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[citation needed]. 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.[3] 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 Olivier Dacourt,
then of Roma. 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.[6]
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[citation needed].
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.[3] 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.[7] 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.
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.[8] 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 Eieur Guejohnsen - 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,"[9]
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.