SoCal Pros No. 1: Robbie Rogers
First in a series highlighting the careers of Southern Californians who play professional soccer.
Robbie Rogers, who grew up in Rolling Hills Estates, just completed his first MLS season with the Columbus Crew
Currently on tour in China with the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team, Rogers came on strong in the latter half of the season. (He didn't see much playing time early on, although Rogers told me he didn't know why at the recent U-23 camp at Home Depot Center, but hoped he'd proved a point. Crew Coach Sigi Schmid, a long-time South Bay resident who has known Rogers since he played youth soccer, is scouting in Europe and was unavailable for comment).
Rogers showed he has an eye for goal and displayed some deft touches in midfield, drawing praise from the likes of Argentine star Guillermo Barros Schelotto with whom he combined well in midfield and credits with helping him become a better player.
Check out the highlights of Rogers season and career in this compilation of clips:
Fans are discussing Robbie and the video here.
Columnist Nick Green has written 100 Percent Soccer
since 2005. A
native of England, he began writing about soccer in
the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat
in the stands for one in
the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home
Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas
USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer.
Married to a long-suffering soccer widow, he has a cat
named Pele.
Comments
Is it just me or does "Robbie Rogers" sound like a real marketable star name?
Posted by: Soccer Poster Man | December 15, 2007 12:04 PM