Den Haag: Dutch football Great Arjen Robben announced his retirement from his club FC Groningen on Thursday, ending a famous career covering two decades.
Considered as one of the best wings of his generation, Robben rejoined FC Groningen last year after serving awarded awards in Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, in the following years.
“I decided to stop with my active football career,” Robben said in a tweet.
“It was a difficult choice,” said the 37-year-old player, who was also confirmed by FC Groningen.
“Everyone around FC Groningen hopes and hopes Robben will continue for the other season, he has decided to stop after many deliberations,” said the club in a statement.
One of the fastest and most skilled dribblers in his heyday, with a devastating left foot, Robben scored more than 200 goals at the club level and 37 for the Netherlands, the last against Sweden in Amsterdam in October 2017.
After his debut at FC Groningen during the 2000-season 01, Robben was transferred to PSV in 2002-03.
His first foreign transfer came two years later when he went to Chelsea and played an important role in helping the West London club win the English Premier League in 2005-06.
Robben moved to Real Madrid in 2007 with a cost reported by around 35 million euros, before joining Bayern in 2009, where he played a major role in the success of the South German club.
Bald Dutchman scored his last league goal for Bayern in May 2019, collecting 99 goals in 201 Bundesliga matches.
Robben said a month later he would retire, but he was busted back to play for FC Groningen last year.
Playing for the Netherlands, Robben has a major part in pushing the Dutch team to the World Cup final in South Africa in 2010 and the third place was completed at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
But the winger had been disturbed throughout his career with injury.
“Looking back last season, I had to come to the honest conclusion that the number of minutes was disappointing,” Robben said Thursday.
“The heart of football wants to continue …, but the decision to stop fair and realistic,” Robben said.