Arjen Robben

About

After being such a startling success for Chelsea in the first half of the 2004/05 season, a combination of injury and loss of form beset Robben. His performances for the Stamford Bridge outfit were outstanding. Premiership defences were unable to live with his pace, power and finishing ability.

The winger's debut was actually delayed until the back end of October after he was injured on international duty with Holland at Euro 2004. He finally made his bow as a 63rd minute substitute for Joe Cole in a 4-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers.

Even in that cameo performance, he showed signs of what was to come.

Robben has proved himself to be one of the most exciting talents in the world, able to run with the ball at pace, score sublime goals and create for others with a fine range of passing.

With Robben and Duff playing a two-pronged support role to a sole striker there was little opposing sides could do to stop the Blues. And Robben bagged four goals in his first seven Premiership starts.

Quite simply, brilliant.

However, he was struck by injury again at the start of February and was restricted to just four further appearances - all from the bench - that season.

Robben struggled to recapture that form at the start of 2005/06. There was talk of a rift between the winger and manager Jose Mourinho, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly waiting in the wings should he decide to move on.

The coach also publicly questioned Robben's form, eager to see him return to the glories of his initial months in the Chelsea team.

And it looked as though he may be on his way back after turning in a man of the match performance in the Premiership victory at Arsenal in December.

He again failed to find top form in 2006/07 and was ruled out for two months at the end of the season.

Chelsea fans would love to see the form of his first few months return.

He began his career with VV Bedum before being snapped up by FC Groningen.

The pacy winger made his bow, aged just 16, in a 1-0 win over Feyenoord. The player was an inspiration and gave a clear indication of what was to come - and within months, in the summer of 2001, PSV Eindhoven had paid £2.6million for him.

He was immediately loaned back to Groningen for the 2001/02 season.

Robben was voted PSV's young player of the year in his first term at the club - weighing in with 12 goals.

The former Holland Under-21 star earned his full debut in April 2003 against Portugal.

Manchester United were the first club to show a real interest in the flying winger. Robben was shown around Old Trafford in January 2004 - something that greatly angered those in power at PSV.

Robben eventually joined the Chelsea revolution in July 2004, signing from PSV in a £12million deal.

The left-sided wing wonder was fresh from Euro 2004, where he had been one of Holland's best players as they bowed out of the tournament in the semi-finals to hosts Portugal.

A fee of £5million was mooted then, and the Dutch club made it clear that figure was way below their valuation.

Chelsea moved in, and agreed a deal in March, with the player to make the switch in the summer. He penned a five-year contract.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'Arjen is a top quality player who will become a major asset for our club in the years ahead. For his age, he shows great maturity and mental strength to go with his natural footballing skills.'

He has regularly been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, and in the summer of 2007 Real Madrid claimed they had reached agreement over his transfer. This was strenuously denied by the player's agent.

He made his 100th Chelsea appearance in 2006/07.

Chelsea now hope he rediscovers his blistering form.

Background

Club Football

International Football

International Goals

Awards and Honours

Personal Awards

Career Statistics

M = Matches, G = Goals, A = Assists

Personal Info

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