
The 37-year-old Arjen Robben has announced his retirement for a second time.
After leaving Bayern Munich in 2019, the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Real Madrid winger originally hung up his boots. Despite this, he signed for boyhood club Groningen in 2020 and spent all of last season with the Dutch side. But Robben hasn’t played for the club much this season due to injury and has decided to end his career.
“Dear football friends, I have decided to stop my active football career,” he told Groningen’s website. “A very difficult choice. I want to thank everyone for all the heart-warming support!”
With an impressive trophy haul, Robben ends his career as one of Europe’s foremost forwards. In 2000, he broke onto the scene with Groningen. Two years later, he joined PSV and won the Eredivisie in his first season at his new club.
After that, Robben moved to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea and won two Premier League titles, two League Cups, and the FA Cup. The Dutchman moved to Real Madrid in 2007, winning La Liga in 2008 before joining Bayern a year later, where he enjoyed the most success. Robben was an eight-time Bundesliga champion and a five-time German Cup winner at the Allianz Arena before announcing a short-lived retirement. Robben won 96 caps for the Netherlands, as well as success at club level, although he was unsuccessful in winning silverware with his nation in the 2010 World Cup final.