Throwback Thursday: Robbie Rogers

At 27 years old, Robbie Rogers has dropped out of university, moved to Holland, won the MLS Cup twice, represented his country and come out of retirement.

Despite this he is best known for being the first footballer to come out as gay in Britain since 1990, and the first to play in MLS.

After playing in Columbus and moving to Europe twice, Rogers has returned home to California and is now focusing on playing football again.

With La Galaxy starting to find form in 2015, we take a look back at a career that will be remembered for ever...

Rogers made headlines around the world after coming out

Factfile:

Full Name: Robert Hampton Rogers

Date of Birth: 12/05/1987

Nationality: American 

Height: 1.78m

Clubs: Heerenveen, Columbus Crew, Leeds United, Stevenage, LA Galaxy

Club Appearances: 210*

Club Goals: 20*

International Appearances: 18*

International Goals: 2*

Domestic Honours:

MLS Cup 2008, 2014

Supporters’ Shield 2008, 2009

MLS Best XI 2008

The Early Years:

Rogers played one season of college soccer for the University of Maryland scoring seven and assisting five to be named in the ACC All-Conference Freshman team.

Heerenveen, best known for finding Alfonso Alves, were alerted and the winger signed a two year contract in 2006 following a successful trial.

Rogers stated that the chance to play professionally in Europe was an opportunity he could not pass up but he failed to make a first-team appearance in Holland.

In February 2007 he left the club by mutual consent and signed with Columbus Crew after returning to the USA.

Rogers in his first MLS season with Crew

All-Conquering Crew:

Aged 20, Rogers scored three times in ten appearances during his first MLS season, including a brace in a 3-2 win over DC United.

2008 was a breakthrough year for the youngster; he played regularly for a Crew side that won the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield.

After being named in the MLS Best XI for the previous season, Rogers form dropped despite Columbus going on to win a second Supporters’ Shield in 2009.

The winger continued to be a key player for Crew in 2010 and after leading the team for assists in 2011 he turned down a new contract with the club.

Coming Out:

Rogers joined Leeds United in January 2012 shortly after making the last of his 18 international appearances to date.

He make his debut on February 12 but was substituted after just ten minutes due to a head injury and would make just three more appearances for the club.

After a brief loan spell with Stevenage, Rogers left Leeds by mutual consent in January 2013 before announcing he was gay on February 15.

The US international played nine times for Stevenage

Rogers was the first British based player to come out since Justin Fashanu in 1990; sadly his announcement coincided with his retirement at just 25.

Return To Football:

On May 1 2013, Rogers began training with LA Galaxy and said he had been convinced to return when speaking at an LGBT youth event in Portland.

He agreed terms with the club three weeks later following the trade of his MLS rights from Chicago Fire in exchange for striker Mike Magee.

When he made his debut in a 4-0 win over Seattle Sounders, Rogers became the first openly gay man to play in a top North American professional sports league.

Since signing with the club, Rogers has reverted to left back, a position he originally struggled with, and was part of Galaxy’s 2014 MLS Cup winning side.

Rogers playing in Galaxy's 2-1 aet MLS Cup final victory

What’s Next...:

At 27 Rogers is now in the prime of his career and is showing signs of finally coming to terms with his new role as a left back.

The MLS Cup holders struggled at the start of 2015 but, after winning back-to-back games, they now lie third in the Western Conference.

On a personal level, Bruce Arena has given Rogers a huge degree of freedom on Galaxy’s left and he will hope to score a first MLS goal in four years.

If he can, and he continues to produce the cavalier performances of recent weeks, the former winger could earn a first international cap since 2011. 

Images courtesy of Greg Hernandez, inmediahk, Greg Bartram and Victor Decolongon, with thanks.