Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben both “hungry professionals” ahead of potential final season
Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are returning for what could be their final seasons as Bayern Munich players, but the legendary duo known as “Robbery” are set on heading out the only way they know how - in style.
Frenchman Ribery will be heading into his 12th Bundesliga season, while his Dutch wing partner Robben will play his 10th campaign of top-flight football in Germany in 2018/19. The pair have played a total of 437 Bundesliga matches, scoring 80 and 95 goals respectively during their incredible time in Bavaria.
With Ribery aged 35 and Robben 34, though, it would be understandable to presume that things will slow down for the pair in what could be their final season. Think again.
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"We’re both professionals and always hungry," Ribery declared during Bayern’s tour of the USA this summer. The eight-time Bundesliga champion was restricted to 20 appearances in the league last term through injury, but still scored five goals and provided an assist.
For Robben injuries were also an issue, but still managed to feature 21 times and contributed heavily with five goals and seven assists. And of course at the pair’s age, injuries will be the biggest issue to handle, and Robben himself understands it will be the most important part of the season to get right.
Watch: All hail Robbery - the Bundesliga's greatest duo!
"For us, the most important thing is that the injuries stay away. If they stay away, we’re young," Robben said about his partner in crime. "It's really fun to play with him [Ribery] we get along very well. Franck and I already trained before the pre-season and are fit."
The duo were both key members of Bayern’s historic treble winning squad in 2013 and clinching that same immortalising haul of titles would be the perfect send-off for two Munich and Bundesliga legends.