Arjen Robben is put in the spotlight by the Eredivisie. The former the Dutch international, who decided to stop permanently as a professional football player this summer, will receive the first oeuvre prize in the Eredivisie next Wednesday. The newly introduced award is presented to Robben for his ‘exceptional track record and significance for Dutch football’.
Robben returned from retirement last year to play for FC Groningen again. The 37-year-old wing striker struggled with long-term and frequent injuries, but eventually made seven appearances for his childhood sweetheart. “Arjen Robben is living proof that boys’ dreams can come true,” says Jan de Jong, director of the Eredivisie CV. “Blessed with a God-given talent and an otherworldly perseverance, he single-handedly made the appearance of Dutch football even more beautiful. A Dutch master.”
“Became champion twelve times, won the Champions League through his goal and made the the Dutch almost world champion”, De Jong sums up. “Almost. The ball a few centimeters higher and even more eternal fame had fallen to him. Now the toe of Iker Casillas has become part of our unwanted collective memory. Just like the ball on the post of Rob Rensenbrink.”
“Unfortunately, the talent cannot be copied, but his commitment, professionalism and the will to win and want to be the best can be. Arjen is a jewel in the crown of the Eredivisie. Started as a boy on a bicycle in Groningen, became a guy in Eindhoven to become a man of the world in London, Madrid and Munich to then ‘just’ land again in Groningen.Not with a private jet, but again by bicycle.Arjen belongs in the Hall of Fame of the Rijksmuseum of the Eredivisie. The least we can give him in return for all that beauty is an oeuvre prize,” De Jong concludes.
Next Wednesday, five prizes will be awarded by the Eredivisie during a live broadcast on ESPN. For example, the player of the year will be chosen in the 2020/21 season, just like the player of the year under 21, the referee of the year, the goal of the year and therefore the oeuvre prize for Robben. The broadcast starts at 8.30 pm and is presented by Jan Joost van Gangelen.
The twenty nominees for Player and Player U21 of the Year 2020/21:
Dusan Tadic, Ryan Gravenberch, Davy Klaassen, Perr Schuurs (all Ajax), Donyell Malen, Eran Zahavi, Philipp Max, Jordan Teze (all PSV), Owen Wijndal, Myron Boadu, Jesper Karlsson (all AZ), Riechedly Bazoer (Vitesse) , Steven Berghuis, Lutsharel Geertruida, Jens Toornstra (all Feyenoord), Ko Itakura (FC Groningen), Rai Vloet, Robin Pröpper (both Heracles Almelo), Kenneth Paal (PEC Zwolle) and Georgios Giakoumakis (VVV-Venlo).