Former Dutch international Arjen Robben announced he would be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of this season, and Franck Ribery is also expected to do same. These electric wing wizards have a combined age of 69 which means this decision by either the player(s) or club is a bit overdue but their achievements in the Bundesliga and for the Bavarian giant must be recognized.
Franck Ribery joined Bayern Munich for a then club-record €25 million from Olympique Marseille in 2007 but his partner in crime, Robben didn’t move to Munich until two years later for the same fee from Real Madrid. Both wing stars played together for Bayern Munich for the first time on Saturday 29 August 2009 to begin an era in the history of Die Roten and coin the name – Robbery.
It goes without saying that both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery have had outstanding careers with Bayern Munich. At half time and leading against Wolfsburg, then Bayern coach Louis van Gaal sent on his compatriot to make his debut. It did not take long before fellow substitute Ribery set up Robben for a dream debut goal. Robben made his first start in a Bayern shirt the following week in the 5-1 win at Borussia Dortmund, Ribery came on to net his first goal of the season and the rest, as they say, is history. The two have won a multitude of silverware with Bayern and both will have been with the club for over ten seasons (10 for Robben, 12 for Ribery) at the end of this campaign. Having Robbery available and fit has been a long standing issue for Bayern but this duo have been a class apart when they play together. 15 Bundesliga titles, nine DFB Cups and one Champions League success between them makes you wonder what else Bayern might have conquered had Robbery featured in all the 299 Bundesliga games they could have played in together. Notwithstanding, both players have a remarkable win ratio when they have played together in the Bundesliga – 78%.
Ribery has set up a total of 19 goals for Robben, with the Dutchman assisting his partner in crime six times. In the 2013 Champions League final, it was Ribery who teed up Robben for the winner which completed an historic Bundesliga, DFB Cup and UCL treble for the Bavarians. Robbery have struck 218 goals: 80 for Ribery, 138 for Robben – that adds up to a goal every 141 minutes for the Dutchman, making him the all-time most prolific midfielder in Bundesliga history while Ribery is the Bundesliga’s all-time leading assist provider with 121 to his name and Robben is not too far behind, having set up 105 goals. In spite of their great understanding on the pitch, they had their not-so-good moments too including a fisticuffs in the dressing room at half-time of their Champions League semi-final clash with Real Madrid in April 2012. “We had a free-kick just before the break and it was ideal for a right-footer,” Ribery explained several years later. “Jupp Heynckes had divided us and if it was for a right-footer, then it was either I or Toni Kroos, with Arjen the only left-footer. But Arjen got involved and said Toni should take it. I was really angry. I was in a rage, he was in a rage, and then it just happened. “I’m really happy with our relationship now, though. It’s a shame that we weren’t such good friends to start with, and there were a few disagreements, but we’re great mates now and have a lot of fun together. He knows how important we both are for Bayern. Robben returned the compliment of support his partner after Ribery came third in the vote for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. “He’s done great and deserves the recognition,” Robben said. “If we want to win titles, we need Ribery.”
Under Jupp Heynckes, Robbery won it all and under Pep Guardiola they became a more rounded footballers, appreciating the need for defensive wing work and caring for their bodies.
We are in the final chapter of Robbery – a significant era at Bayern. Both players might leave with one more Bundesliga title if they can make up the seven points gap between them and arch rivals Borussia Dortmund. Another league title will see Robben to join Oliver Kahn, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mehmet Scholl on eight while Ribery could become Bayern’s record title-winner by lifting a ninth Bundesliga crown.
Either way, Robbery have made their mark in the Bundesliga and Bayern Munich. Let’s enjoy the last few months of this fantastic duo.