According to reports, Arjen Robben, the former star of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Chelsea, has started a new chapter in his professional career by being appointed as the head coach of FC Groningen’s Under-14 team. The Dutch club, where Robben spent his youth and made his professional debut in 2000, officially announced the news.

The club stated in a release: “Robben, who retired in 2021 after returning to Groningen for one season, has now come back to the club as a coach. He previously worked as a coach for his son Luca’s team at amateur club Be Quick 1887 and completed internships at Groningen’s youth academy.”

Byron Bakers, Head of Football Development at FC Groningen, said about the appointment: “We are honored to have Arjen Robben as the head coach of one of our youth teams. His experience as a player is undeniable, but he has also been impactful as a coach from the very beginning.”

Robben told club media: “I see this phase as an exploratory period for myself. I don’t want to say, ‘This is exactly what I want!’ but rather I want to discover whether this role still excites me after a year and whether it suits me or not.” He will work two days a week with various academy teams, with a special focus on the Under-18 team led by his former teammate, Melchior Schoenmakers.

Interestingly, Robben’s sons are also part of FC Groningen’s academy. Luca plays for the Under-16 team, while Kai is in the Under-12 team.

With this step, Robben is sharing his valuable knowledge and experience with the new generation of players, contributing to the development of football at the club where he grew up.