Arjen Robben (help·info) (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

(2000-2001)
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

(2001-2004)
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 Kezman. 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 Roma's Olivier Dacourt. 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.

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]}.

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] 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 Eidur Gudjohnsen - 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, although it remains unclear whether a foul was committed or not.^{[citation needed]}

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 Jose Mourinho has stopped short of rebuking Robben, but has admitted he fears that Robben's behavior might attract more penalty cards.^[8]

Quotes about Robben

Dutch football great Johan Cruijff:

"Robben is all set to have a fabulous career. You need to have a lot of qualities to break through at the highest level in world football and he certainly has those. I have no doubts about his future whatsoever ... Robben is learning very quickly ... he keeps scoring goals and keeps playing well. He knows that I expect a lot from him, but I am sure he is going to live up to all my expectations."^[5]

Tottenham Hotspur coach Martin Jol:

"There are maybe two or three players as good as he is in the last 20 or 30 years. He’s that good.”^[10]

Former Dutch National Team coach Dick Advocaat:

"He's a constant threat on the wing. He's fast, extremely fast, actually. He can break an opponent with his dribbles and skills, and that's a big advantage for our team."^[10]

BBC pundit and former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen:

"There is no doubt he is a better winger than Cristiano Ronaldo in the minds of anyone who knows football."

Ruud Gullit on ITV:

"Robben is the best winger in the world, and in a few years will be the best player in the world, his dazzling skills, and immense pace make him greatly feared by all opposition."

Personal life

He currently has a girlfriend named Bernadien, who he knew before starting his football career.^[11] His father, Hans, acts as his agent. In addition to being a talented football player, Robben is quite adept at chess.^[5]

References

1. ^ (Dutch) De Wiel Coerver Methode
2. ^ Arjen Robben at endlesssoccer.tripod.com
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Biography at ArjenRobbenFan.com
4. ^ (Dutch) Cv Arjen Robben at voetbalfocus.nl
5. ^ ^a b c Arjen Robben - On The Way?, The Red Devil's Advocate blog, January 4, 2004
6. ^ Arjen ROBBEN Profile at Yahoo! Sport UK
7. ^ Arjen Robben at ESPNsoccernet
8. ^ ^a b Matt Hughes, Robben gets the message to rescue his reputation, The Times, February 8, 2006
9. ^ However Reina's red card wasn't rescinded as the FA panel deemed it to be a sending off offence.Liverpool's Reina slams Robben: Give him an Oscar!, TribalFootball.com, February 8, 2006
10. ^ ^a b Quotes at ArjenRobbenFan.com
11. ^ Arjen Robben dropped by, PSV.nl, January 7, 2005

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