Thank you, Mr. Wembley

On July 4th, 2019, Arjen Robben announced his retirement from professional football. This article is very special piece to me, as the Dutch winger is my favorite footballer of all time, and among my greatest athletic inspirations. As an amateur footballer myself, I cannot speak on how much Robben’s game and character has influenced the player and individual that I am today.

Whether it be Arjen’s incredible 2010 and 2014 world cup runs, his 2013 UCL winning goal for Bayern, or simply the endless occasions that he humiliated defenders by cutting inside with his left, I will honor these memories forever. I will not provide an overview or summary of Robben’s career achievements, as they clearly speak for their self. Among the thirty trophies, 247 goals, and 162 assists, these accolades are merely a figment of what Arjen Robben’s career meant to many viewers of the game, myself included.

To me, what makes Arjen Robben so special are his characteristics that are not recorded in the stat book. From his immense professionalism, intense competitiveness, pure passion, and sheer discipline, these internal qualities are what define Robben’s career.

Unfortunately, Robben’s career has been tainted by injuries, ranging from abductor, back, ankle, calf, thigh, knee, pinched nerves, sciatic nerve issues, torn muscle fibers, tendinitis, groin strains, cals sclerosis, and more. One of Robben’s saddest quotes, after his return from injury vs. Cameroon in the 2010 World Cup is that “people don’t always understand that it’s hard to be injured and watch the game from the bench.”