Meet the two-time Premier League winner who is taking padel by storm at 41 after turning professional four years on from retiring from football

He tormented opposition defences throughout an illustrious taking part in profession and now considered one of soccer’s most well-known wingers is seeking to conquer one other sport.

His resume contains 12 league titles gained throughout 4 completely different high flights, one Champions League and 96 caps over a 14-year spell for his nation.

Nevertheless, the now retired footballer has turned skilled in one other sport: padel.

The participant in query? Ex-PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Actual Madrid, Bayern Munich and Groningen star Arjen Robben.

The 41-year-old retired from soccer, after popping out of an preliminary retirement in 2020, in July 2021 for Dutch outfit Groningen.

Whereas many footballers both go into teaching or the media, Robben incorporates the previous together with his burgeoning skilled padel profession.

Ex-footballer Arjen Robben is now knowledgeable padel participant and has a world rating, aged 41

Robben gained 12 league titles throughout an illustrious soccer profession – together with the 2004-05 Premier League whereas at Chelsea

In late August, he gained his first rating factors within the Worldwide Padel Federation when he entered the FIP Bronze Westerbork event, a part of the CUPRA FIP Tour, in his homeland of the Netherlands.

He and his accomplice Werner Lootsma overcame six match factors in a qualifier to defeat Ralph Boekema and Mark Weldmate, one other former footballer, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 to achieve the primary draw.

That was Robben’s first-ever victory on the tour however that was nearly as good because it bought for him in the course of the event as he and Lootsma have been outclassed of their last-32 conflict.

Developing towards world No 155 Sten Richters and world No 144 Thijs Roper they suffered a heavy 6-1, 6-0 defeat.

Regardless of the loss, an enormous crowd have been current with tons of in attendance to look at Robben play.

‘He is the very best former skilled footballer we all know who performs padel,’ commented Richters and Roper post-match as they paid tribute to Robben.

Robben was gracious in defeat too, admitting he did not count on an excessive amount of of himself towards higher gamers.

‘I do not suppose I can take myself too significantly. I began with low expectations’ he mentioned.

‘However I attempted to combat on the court docket, and rating as many factors as doable.’

In August, Robben gained his first-ever skilled match with taking part in accomplice Werner Lootsma

The pair nevertheless misplaced their subsequent match to Sten Richters and Thijs Roper within the Netherlands

Robben’s ardour for padel started when he was taking part in for Bayern Munich the place he mentioned: ‘I used to play 3 times per week after I was in Germany.’

He has beforehand spoken about seeking to emulate former footballers turning to padel – pointing to the impression of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had in Sweden.

‘Zlatan Ibrahimovic made padel an vital sport in Sweden, and I feel I can do the identical within the Netherlands.’

In 2023, Robben teamed up with former Netherlands strike accomplice Robin van Persie because the duo swapped the soccer pitch for a padel court docket taking part in within the Professional-Am of the World Padel Tour Amsterdam Open.

And similar to their dazzling footballing careers, it led to success because the duo gained the ‘Legends Recreation’.

In 2023, Robben teamed up with former Netherlands team-mate Robin van Persie as they gained the ‘Legends Recreation’ within the Professional-Am of the World Padel Tour Amsterdam Open

Robben’s love for padel began at Bayern Munich – the place he performed ‘3 times per week’

Robben retired from soccer on the finish of the 2020-21 season at Dutch outfit Groningen

‘What an unimaginable expertise to play on the Amsterdam Open as soon as once more! An intense match in wonderful firm,’ Van Persie remarked afterwards.

Robben is presently ranked 1,980 on the earth with three rating factors. He’s a great distance off from the highest with Argentine Agustine Tapia and Spaniard Arturo Coello joint world-no 1 with 20,200 factors apiece.

Nevertheless, Robben is remarkably nearer to the world No 5 within the rankings than that participant is nearer to Tapia and Coello. Argentine Franco Stupaczuk is fifth within the standings with 8,835 factors: 11,365 behind Tapia and Coello and eight,832 forward of Robben.

Solely time will inform if the Dutchman will climb up the rankings, however you would be silly to wager towards him.