Arjen Robben retires from professional football

Mumbai: Arjen Robben has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 35-year-old has confirmed his retirement after being released by Bayern Munich at the end of last season.

Robben made 606 appearances for Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and scored 210 goals in a career spanning over 19 years.

The winger began his career at Groningen before moving onto PSV, Chelsea, Real and Bayern Munch. He won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid and two Premier League titles with Chelsea.

Robben spent a decade with Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga eight times and also lifted the Champions League trophy in 2013.

Robben picked 96 caps for the Netherlands and also played in the 2010 World Cup final.

Robben suggested it had been one of the toughest choices he had made. He announced: "I have decided to put an end to my career as a professional football player."

'It is, without doubt, the most difficult decision I have had to make in my career... a decision in which 'heart' and 'mind' collided."

"The love for the game gives you the conviction that you can still handle the whole world, as opposed to the reality that not everything works the way you want and you are no longer the 16-year-old boy who had no idea what an injury meant."

"At the moment I am fit and healthy and as a fan of many other sports, I want to keep it that way for the future. So I will definitely stop, but it is good that way."