From football to padel

At 41 years old, Arjen Robben’s sporting life has taken an unexpected turn. After a career plagued by injuries but also filled with trophies at clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, the Dutchman has now made a name for himself in another sport: padel. Alongside Werner Lootsma, he competed in the FIP Bronze in Westerbork, part of the CUPRA FIP Tour, where he secured his first victory in the discipline.

A hard-fought win and a quick exit

Robben and his partner defeated Ralph Boekema and Mark Weldmate —also a former footballer— 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, saving six match points in a thrilling duel. However, the dream was short-lived: in the round of 32, they fell heavily 6-1, 6-0 against Sten Richters (No. 155 in the FIP rankings) and Thijs Roper (No. 144).
After that loss, his rivals praised him with a phrase that echoed around the tournament: Robben is “the best former professional footballer who can play padel,” according to the International Padel Federation.

No plans to turn pro

Despite the recognition and even having his own court built at home, Robben remains realistic: “I don’t think I can take it that seriously,” he admitted after the tournament. He confessed he started “with low expectations” and only wanted to fight for every point, enjoying this new sporting side without the pressure that followed him in football.

In this way, the Dutchman adds a curious new chapter to his life —far from the stadiums but proving that the passion to compete never fades.