Seasonal ticket sales for FC Groningen immediately skyrocketed only overnight after the announcement of Arjen Robben’s comeback.
FC Groningen announced that 10,000 season tickets had been sold, one day after Arjen Robben announced he would be back as an active player.
The announcement was made by Robben, 36, in a short video reported on the Groningen social media platform on Saturday (6/27) evening WIB. The former Bayern Munich star and the Dutch national team said they were working to restore their fitness to be fit when they joined Groningen’s first training session in July. Dutch Eredivisie 2020/21 season itself is certain to be rolling again next September.
Robben returned to the press conference which was broadcast live in Groningen this Sunday. “Six months after I retired, I returned to watching football and my feet started to itch,” said Robben, who decided to hang up his shoes because he was tired of the constant beatings of his injuries. Then came the Corona pandemic and became a trigger. I miss the match and get back to training. “
The visit of two Groningen officials, technical director Mark-Jan Fledderus and CEO Wouter Gudde, in May made him even more excited comeback. Last year, Fledderus and Gudde also persuaded Robben to reunite with Groningen once his contract at Bayern ended. However, at that time the star refused.
“I have no ambition to be a coach or join the management,” Robben continued. “Then I actively practiced. The period of not playing football apparently made me better physically. Then we discussed about what role would be suitable for me in providing positive things for Groningen. I also decided, namely to return to playing on the field.”
“Why am I doing this? This morning I discussed it with my wife about what one word could explain my decision to return to playing. That word is: love. I went home. I felt it would not be possible to do it with another club. This is one- the only choice for me. We will certainly stay here again. I think I will enjoy it. “
“I have been training for the past five to six weeks,” continued Robben. “I still have a few steps left, but my feelings so far are good. Maybe this will have positive results.”
“My feelings are positive and so is my physical coach. Our goal and mission are clear, which is to be back on the pitch and compete.”
Likewise with the positive impact felt by Groningen. The club that celebrates 50 years of its anniversary is in a difficult financial condition. A number of former players such as Virgil van Dijk, Luis Suarez, and Ronald Koeman bought up season tickets to be distributed to lucky supporters. When Robben announced his return to Groningen, the club nicknamed Trots van het Noorden (Pride of the North) had succeeded in selling an additional more than 2000 pieces of canal tickets again.
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