Arjen Robben will attempt a football comeback with his hometown team FC Groningen.

The 36-year-old, who played 96 games for the Netherlands, had announced his retirement on July 4, 2019 after having a highly-successful 19-year professional career, which started in FC Groningen’s academy.

Robben played for PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and ended his career at Bayern Munich – winning 12 league titles in the Netherlands, England, Spain and Germany (eight with Bayern Munich, two at Chelsea and one each at PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid). He was also a runner-up at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“As everyone knows I have taken time after my last game at Bayern Munich to make a decision over my future. And I have now decided to end my career as a professional footballer.

My love for the game and the conviction that I can still take on the world was up against the reality that things haven’t always gone the way I would have hoped and that I’m no longer a youngster of 16 who has no idea what injures can do to you,” Robben said when he retired with Bayern Munich.

Arjen Robben also won the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2012-13, scoring the winning goal. Robben said in a video on FC Groningen’s social media channels on Saturday that his return would “be a tough physical challenge but I am going for It!”

Robben said: “Dear football fans and Groningen fans, I was 12 years old when I started playing in Groningen’s youth academy.

I made my home debut against Feyenoord when I was 16. After two years, I made a transfer to PSV. After a wonderful adventure of 18 years, we’re coming home back to Groningen.

I want to make my comeback as a football player, a player of Groningen. At this time, I am not sure if it will happen. What I am sure of, is that my drive and motivation will be at 100 percent.”