Arjen Robben officially said goodbye to the fans of FC Groningen on Sunday afternoon prior to the home match against RKC Waalwijk. The 37-year-old former attacker, who officially ended his career at the end of last season, walked a lap of honor through the Hitachi Stadium. ESPNreporter Cristian Willaert saw that Robben swallowed his emotions.
Robben first received a bouquet and a painting in the center circle with an image of him in the shirt of FC Groningen. “I have said it many times before: I would have loved to say goodbye as a player here, to hit the ball one more time. That didn’t happen. Nevertheless, I am very grateful for all the support, the warmth that I have always felt from supporters. I’ve always felt very appreciated,” Robben told the crowd. The supporters held up a banner that read: ‘Only one thing matters to us: you came back, back to where you once started. For us green and white. Thanks Arjen!’
?? Arjen Robben said goodbye to @Fc Groningen:
“I gave everything, this was him.” pic.twitter.com/5lpxn113Ye
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) Nov 7, 2021
Mark-Jan Fledderus then spoke on behalf of FC Groningen. “I hope this is not a goodbye, but that we will see you more often,” said the technical director, before Robben started a lap of honor through the stadium. This was watched by Willaert and Simon Cziommer, who, on behalf of ESPN be present at the duel. “It was raining when Arjen Robben entered the field,” Willaert said. “He gets it as a gift, it gets dry and the sun breaks through a bit: that is typical of what this man meant for FC Groniingen, then and certainly also last year. Not so much sporty on the field, but with his appearance.”
“That’s right,” Cziommer replied. “It’s such a shame… We were all hoping for it. I don’t know the first ESPN broadcast when we knew he was coming back on the field. How hopeful we were. Unfortunately it didn’t work out. But one thing is certain: he and the club have done everything they can. In the end, he did his bit by helping the club on the right track, despite not being on the pitch.”
“He is an insane player. I’m just looking around, but the stands all have names already. Maybe the stadium is named after Arjen Robben, I’m curious about that. The influence and value he has for this club is indescribable,” continued Cziommer. Willaert stated that you rarely see ‘such a modest farewell for such a great player’.
“That’s why we have to think about a player like Arjen much more often, because he doesn’t do that himself,” emphasized Cziommer. “He’s not looking for it. He has been appreciated everywhere. In Germany, he was always portrayed as one of Bayern Munich’s key men. That is the biggest club, but at the same time also the club that everyone hates. There is a certain jealousy, Bayern is FC Hollywood. But he didn’t fit in there.”
Willaert saw ‘a certain amazement’ in the stands of the Hitachi Stadium. “No, it’s actually kind of… Sadness I wouldn’t call it. But they look sad that they haven’t been able to see more of him here on the field,” Cziommer said. Willaert: “Also a kind of modest respect, which is nice. I tried to look into his face and he kind of swallows the emotion, he kind of keeps it in.” Cziommer agrees: “That’s part of him. He doesn’t like it, all this is too much for him. People don’t have to see him so personally, but as an athlete and a good person. You see that again here. He also knew that this moment was coming for a while.”