Ranking Arjen Robben's Seasons for Bayern Munich

When football fans consider the archetypal winger in their minds, they usually start with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid fame. Very few turn to Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben, and there’s something deeply troubling with that. 

With 181 appearances, 97 goals and 65 assists for the German giants, the Dutchman has consistently proven to be one of the very best from a wide position within the sport over the course of his time at the club. 

Winning all there is to win in the cut-throat business of domestic football, Robben has had a truly fantastic time in Munich and is easily considered one of the best players to have ever played for the club. 

Here is a ranking of his best seasons in Bavaria. 

Note: As one would imagine, involving this current season in the rankings wouldn't make too much sense. Although the winger has been outstanding thus far in all of Bayern's campaigns, we'll have to wait till May to see what he ends up winning.

All stats used in this article are taken from Transfermarkt.com.

5: The 2010-11 Season

Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

Robben's second season at the club was unfortunately not as constructive as his first, with a nasty torn muscle keeping him out of the first team for the opening 17 games of the league campaign. 

Such a loss ultimately proved too much for his side, who gave up their Bundesliga trophy to interesting new challengers in Borussia Dortmund and their manager Jurgen Klopp. Robben would return in time for the latter stages of the Champions League, but unfortunately Inter Milan put an end to any European dreams that season in the first knock-out round of the competition. 

Add to that a cup final defeat to Schalke, and you basically have one of the worst seasons for Bayern in recent memory. Which Robben, unfortunately, spent much of watching from the sideline. 

He did, however, prove his worth when he was finally fit and able with an incredible 12 goals in his 14 Bundesliga appearances that season. Yet that ultimately offered little solace to the dreadful season for his club. 

4: The 2011-12 Season

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

The following season saw Robben return to the squad and winning ways, to an extent, with 12 goals and six assists in 24 Bundesliga matches. 

Dortmund were still the champions in waiting that season, but Bayern looked back to their old selves and were able to nab second place with a clear intention of catching their new opponents one day. 

Yet Bayern made up for another poor domestic campaign with a Champions League run that saw them reach the final in their own back yard, at the Allianz Arena in Munich. 

Unfortunately for Robben, Bayern wouldn't pick up the famous trophy that day, as Chelsea smashed and grabbed their way to a famous win, but it was an improved season nonetheless.

3: The 2013-14 Season

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

It may seem odd to suggest, but Bayern's double last season was in fact not even the best of Robben's time at the club. 

Yes the Dutchman saw his side walk to another Bundesliga title, ultimately finishing 19 points ahead of the nearest rivals Dortmund, as well as another Pokal trophy after scoring against Dortmund again, yet it unfortunately pales into comparison beside the club's achievement the year before. 

Robben actually managed his second-best goal tally that season, with 21 goals in all competition, yet that semi-final defeat to Real Madrid in which the winger played a large part keeps this campaign at No. 3.

2: The 2009-10 Season

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

A defining season for Robben in many regards, the Dutchman arrived in Munich in 2009 and subsequently took to the club like a duck to water. 

Bayern were on fire that season and duly walked to a league title thanks to 16 Bundesliga goals and seven assists from the winger. 

The side also picked up an impressive Pokal Cup trophy, beating league rivals Werder Bremen 4-0 in the process, on the way to a famous double for the Bavarian club. 

The only thing that keeps such a campaign from the top spot is the fact that Louis van Gaal's side failed to overcome Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in the Champions League final, despite disposing of Manchester United, Lyon, Juventus and Fiorentina along the way. 

The Dutchman's first treble in Germany would have to come later. 

1: The 2012-13 Season

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Bayern won the treble in 2013. A feat which includes the German Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the European Champions League. To put it quite simply: Nobody was able to stop this side over the course of the 2012/13 season. 

In Jupp Heynckes' final move at the club, Robben and his teammates ensured that the former Gladbach player retired as a Bayern legend and duly avenged the troubles of losing the European Cup in their own backyard the year before. 

What stands out so much for the Dutchman is the individual performances he put on that season. He scored a vital goal in the 2-0 win over Wolfsburg, two in the 9-2 demolition of Hamburg and a goal apiece in both semi-final match against Barcelona. 

Yet what will truly stand out from this season and perhaps the entirety of Robben's career is the goal and assist he grabbed in the Champions League final against Dortmund. The Dutchman was Bayern's best player that day and picked up the ultimate prize for his troubles.