Physical setbacks: Former Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben ends active career at Groningen

A great career is coming to an end: Arjen Robben, recently signed with Dutch first-division club FC Groningen, is ending his active professional career. The former Bayern Munich player announced, Thursday. “I have decided to end my active football career,” the 37-year-old said in his farewell statement. “A year ago, I announced my return as a player from Groningen. I embarked on this adventure with great vigor and enthusiasm.” However, he eventually experienced “relatively quick physical setbacks”, due to which he was forced to take regular breaks.

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In fact, after returning to Al Shabab for the 2020/21 season, Robben repeatedly suffered from physical problems and only participated in seven competitive matches. “Looking back at last season, I have to honestly say that the number of minutes I played was disappointing. I knew it could happen in advance, but I accepted the challenge and did everything to perfect it,” the Dutch coach continued. In the end, he had to make the difficult decision that “directly contradicts the heart of football”.

Robben spent his most successful time at Bayern Munich, working as a right-winger for ten years from 2009 to 2019. With the Munich team, he won eight German championships and five DFB Cups. In 2013, he also managed to bring the treble of the Championship, Cup and Champions League to the Bavarian capital with Bayern. In the Premier League category final against Borussia Dortmund, he scored the most important goal of his career to make it 2-1.