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'The Last Dance' documentary inspired Arjen Robben to end retirement
Jul 28, 2018; Miami, FL, USA; Arjen Robben celebrates his goal against the Manchester City during the first half of an International Champions Cup soccer match at Hard Rock Stadium. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

'The Last Dance' documentary inspired Arjen Robben to end retirement

Dutch footballing legend Arjen Robben, who helped Bayern Munich win a Champions League title and who retired in July 2019 after winning eight Bundesliga crowns with the German giants, ended his retirement over the weekend to sign for boyhood club FC Groningen of the Eredivisie.

Groningen supporters can thank Michael Jordan that the 36-year-old with a lethal left foot felt he had some unfinished on-the-pitch business to handle.

As explained by Nicholas McGee of Goal.com, Groningen technical director Mark-Jan Fledderus told reporters on Sunday that he'd been in contact with Robben about rejoining the team where he got his professional start 20 years ago since Robben's retirement.

Last month, Fledderus visited Robben and showed a unique highlight reel of the ESPN docuseries "The Last Dance" about Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team that won the franchise's sixth NBA championship of that decade.

"We ordered sushi from their favorite restaurant and we made a compilation of footage from the documentary 'The Last Dance' and footage of Robben," Fledderus said. "We then said that the best way to help our club was to play football with us."

Inspired by His Airness, Robben put pen to paper on a deal with the club:

Robben added that he's unsure how long his second tenure in professional football will last. 

Groningen were ninth in the league table when the Eredivisie voided the season in April due to the coronavirus pandemic. Dutch officials hope to begin the 2020-21 campaign in September. 

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