FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

"Robben is all set to have a fabulous career. He knows that I expect a lot from him, but I am sure he is going to live up to all my expectations." So said Johan Cruyff, Dutch icon, one of the greatest footballers the world has seen and, evidently, a fully-fledged member of the Arjen Robben fan club.
For Robben, such remarks have become almost run-of-the-mill. Hype and expectation have, after all, been constant companions throughout the little winger’s career, with the 22-year-old merely left to justify his billing as one of world football’s most exciting emerging talents. Germany 2006 will be Robben’s first FIFA World Cup™, and many consider him the ace in the Netherlands’ pack. In the three-pronged attack preferred by Marco van Basten, he and Ruud van Nistelrooy are adjudged certainties to take up the left and central roles respectively, leaving the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie and Roy Makaay to jostle for the remaining slot.

By the start of May this year, Robben had 18 senior caps and six international goals to his name, and the high point of his career with the Oranje to date came in Portugal two years ago, when he produced a series of scintillating performances in the Netherlands’ ultimately ill-fated bid to win UEFA EURO 2004.

His debut for the national side had come 14 months earlier in a 1-1 draw with Portugal and, in truth, the 22-year-old would have amassed a great deal more international experience by now were it not for a string of frustrating hamstring and metatarsal injuries that have stunted his progress. He did, however, contribute a couple of goals to the Netherlands’ successful qualification for the Germany 2006, as well as scoring twice against Germany in a 2-2 friendly draw. Hopes are high then that his renowned pace and trickery will be used to devastating effect in the country where Cruyff and Co thrilled the world en route to a heart-breaking Final defeat in 1974.

Robben, born in Bedum on 23 January 1984, was not around to see those halcyon days of ‘Total football’ and was little more than a toddler when his current international manager spearheaded a memorable Dutch triumph at the 1988 European Championship. However, since beginning his career with FC Groningen in November of 2000 and winning the club’s Player of the Year award while still just 17, the winger has set about making history all of his own.

PSV gambled 4.2million Euros on him realising his potential at that fledging stage of his career and, after loaning the teenager back to Gronigen for a season, reaped their rewards when he returned to the Philips Stadium and immediately struck up a deadly partnership with Mateja Kezman, a player against whom he is likely to line up on 11 June, when the Netherlands lock horns with Serbia and Montenegro.

The Dutch title was secured with ease in his first full season with PSV and, though the following campaign was punctuated by a string of injuries that at one stage threatened his involvement at EURO 2004, that did not dissuade Manchester United and Chelsea from entering into a battle for his signature from which the super-rich London club eventually emerged triumphant. His first season in England again saw injuries hamper his progress, but though Chelsea would have preferred to see a greater quantity of appearances from the young Dutchman, there was no disputing his quality. Robben appeared more frequently in the 2005/06 campaign and arrived in Germany having helped Chelsea capture a second successive Premiership title.

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UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

Arjen Robben's increasingly assured displays marked him down as a fearsome winger with devastating pace. Former Dutch international Ruud Gullit said of him: "Robben is the best winger in the world, and in a few years will be the best player in the world."

Club
Robben signed for PSV in a €3.9m transfer in summer 2001, a deal that allowed him to continue his development with FC Groningen for another season. He had just broken into the first team at the Oosterpark, having moved there from his local team, VV Bedum. A terrific first season at the Philips stadium in 2002/03 ended with Robben being voted the Netherlands' Young Player of the Year as his 12 goals helped PSV to the Eredivise title. Although hampered by injury the following season, he had already done enough to convince Chelsea to secure him on a five-year deal worth €18m. Injury delayed his debut until October 2004 but Robben immediately shone, injected impetus to the side before a fractured foot and an ankle ligament injury halted his progress. Nonetheless, he did enough to earn a Premiership winners' medal, a feat he repeated in 2005/06.

National team
Having represented the Netherlands Under-21 side, Robben's full debut came in the April 2003 friendly against Portugal. He impressed at UEFA EURO 2004™ as the Netherlands were knocked out by Portugal in the semi-finals. Portugal also eliminated Robben's side in the last 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Did you know?
Robben was adamant he should finish his high school studies in case injury ever wrecked his career.

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UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

The rising goalscoring star of Dutch football, Arjen Robben's increasingly assured displays have surpassed his tender years, and many believe he could have the greatest potential of all of his young team-mates at PSV Eindhoven.

National team
An established Dutch Under-21 forward, Robben's full debut came in the April 2003 friendly against Portugal, replacing Marc Overmars as a 76th-minute substitute in a 1-1 draw. Made his competitive debut in the 3-1 home UEFA EURO 2004™ qualiftying defeat of Austria and scored his first goal in the final Group 3 victory against Moldova. Winning a starting place for the second finals match against the Czech Republic, his eventual substitution caused an outcry as the Dutch lost the lead to by defeated 3-2. Robben responded with superb performances against Latvia and Sweden - converting the winning penalty int he quarter-final shoot-out against the latter game - before they bowed out to hosts Portugal in the last four.

Club
Robben signed for PSV in summer 2001, in a deal that allowed him to continue his development with FC Groningen for another year. Robben had just broken into the first team at the Oosterpark, having moved there from his local team, VV Bedum. Further compelling evidence of Robben's ability came in his senior debut in December 2000, when, at just 16, he tortured the mighty Feyenoord in a 1-0 victory with a masterful display of wing play. Six months later, he had been voted Groningen's player of the year and earned that €3.9m transfer to PSV. The following campaign, 2001/02, he contributed six goals in 28 appearances to help Groningen maintain their top-flight status prior to his departure to PSV Eindhoven for €3.9m.

2002: A terrific first season at the Philips stadium ended with Robben being voted young player of the year in the Netherlands. Aged 19, he played a major role in the championship success, missing just one league match and scoring 12 goals.

2003/04: Scored five times in 23 Eredivisie matches as PSV finished second behind AFC Ajax. It would prove to be his final season in Eindhoven after agreeing an €18m, five-year deal to join Chelsea FC.

Did you know?
Robben was adamant he should finish his high school studies in case injury ever wrecked his career.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

BBC's UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile

Speedy Arjen Robben has become one of Europe's most talked-about players over the last year.

He signalled the start of a new era when replacing Marc Overmars on his Dutch debut.

Robben was named Holland's young player of the year after starring for PSV, who realised he was destined to leave.

Despite training with Manchester United, where he was seen as a natural successor to Ryan Giggs, he eventually signed for Chelsea in a £12m deal.

An exciting attacker, Robben extends the Dutch tradition of dashing left-sided players which has stretched from Johan Cruyff to Overmars.

But he can also act as an inside, or second striker, up front or even on the right.

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