Arjen Robben to receive oeuvre prize for services to Dutch football

Arjen Robben is set to receive an oeuvre prize from the Eredivisie, in recognition of the footballing legacy he has left behind.

Taking place on Wednesday night, the awards ceremony will commend the player, Under-21 player, goal and referee of the year as well as hosting this special prize for Robben.

The now 37-year-old made his professional debut for Groningen back in 2001 and has gone on to write himself into footballing history books courtesy of a glittering 21-year career.

Moving on from Groningen, Robben joined PSV Eindhoven where he would lift his first silverware, aiding in the club's 2003/04 Eredivisie triumph. Subsequent spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid would produce yet more success as the winger collected eight honours over a five-year period with both clubs, before moving to Bayern Munich in 2009.

That move would produce a decade-long love affair between club and player, as Robben scored 144 and assisted 101 in 309 appearances for Die Roten. During those ten years, the Dutchman won eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League crown and a whole host of domestic cup competitions, while also perfecting his memorable and mostly unstoppable 'cut inside and shoot' technique.

Robben never found glory on the international scene, narrowly losing to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final before coming third in Brazil four years later. Nevertheless, the winger left international duty a legend, scoring 37 goals in 96 caps.

After announcing his retirement following the conclusion of the 2020/21 season with his first club Groningen, the Eredivisie have now confirmed that the Dutchman will receive the Oeuvre prize for his services.

"Arjen Robben is living proof that boyhood dreams can come true. Blessed with a god-given talent and an extra-terrestrial perseverance, he has single-handedly made the prestige of Dutch football even more beautiful. A Dutch master," said Eredivisie director Jan de Jong.

"Unfortunately, the talent cannot be copied, but fortunately his commitment, professionalism and the will to win and want to be the best can.

"Arjen is a jewel in the crown of the Eredivisie. Started as a boy on the bike in Groningen, became a guy in Eindhoven and then became a man of the world in London, Madrid and Munich and then just landed again in Groningen. Not with a private jet, but again with the bike.

"Arjen belongs in the hall of fame of the Rijksmuseum of the Eredivisie. The least we can give back to him for all that beauty is an oeuvre prize."