Robbie Rogers

Robert Hampton Rogers III (born May 12, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player.

He played as a winger and as a left back.

Rogers has also represented the United States men's national soccer team.

Rogers made three appearances for Orange County Blue Star of the USL Premier Development League in 2005, leaving upon deciding to attend university in the fall.

He played one season of college soccer at the University of Maryland, alongside his future Columbus Crew teammate Jason Garey, helping lead the team to the 2005 NCAA Championship.

During his one season at UMD, he scored seven times and assisted a further five goals.

He was also named in the ACC All-Conference Freshman team, as well as the Soccer Rookie Team of the Year.

After impressing during his one year of college soccer for Maryland Terrapins, Rogers attracted the interest of Dutch Eredivisie side Heerenveen.

He signed for Heerenveen in August 2006 but failed to make any first-team appearances.

In the summer of 2006, Heerenveen invited Rogers to the club for a three-week trial, an option that he ultimately took up.

The trial period was successful, and he signed a two-year professional contract with the Dutch side in August 2006, his first professional deal.

Rogers admitted that the decision to turn professional, and turn down three remaining years of eligibility at Maryland, was "the toughest of his life", but also stated that it was "an opportunity he could not pass up".

However, Rogers failed to make a first-team appearance for the club, although played frequently for the reserve side that went on to win their respective league during the 2006–07 season.

He left the club by mutual consent in February 2007, and returned to the United States to sign for Columbus Crew.

He left Heerenveen by mutual consent in February 2007.

Following his release, Rogers returned to the United States, and was subsequently signed by MLS side Columbus Crew ahead of the 2007 MLS season.

Columbus Crew acquired Rogers after they had won a Draft Lottery for the player in March 2007.

He scored his first goal for the club on June 17, 2007, netting the opening goal of the game in a 3–3 draw away to New England Revolution.

Rogers scored two further times during the 2007 campaign, both of which came in a 3–2 victory over D.C. United at RFK Stadium.

He made ten appearances during his first season with Crew, scoring three times and making one assist.

Rogers' four-year tenure at Columbus Crew was a successful one, with the player breaking through into the first-team, as well as securing an MLS Cup title in 2008 and two Supporters' Shield wins in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

The 2008 season would be Rogers' breakthrough season as a professional.

He started the campaign playing regularly for Crew, scoring his first goals of the season in a 4–3 home win over CD Chivas USA on April 13, 2008.

In December 2011, Rogers opted to leave Crew when his contract expired.

He moved to England, although a series of injuries limited his appearances before he announced his retirement, and returned to the US.

Robbie Rogers was born in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, the son of Theresa and Robert Hampton Rogers II.

He has one brother, Timothy, and three sisters, Nicole Camilla, Alicia, and Katie Rose.

His mother's family is originally from the Columbus, Ohio area, where Rogers played for Columbus Crew.

His maternal grandfather is a graduate of Ohio State University and his mother spent her early childhood years in Dublin, Ohio, before the family moved to California.

When growing up, Rogers enjoyed surfing, and he still surfs.

He also enjoys playing table tennis and has a strong interest in music.

Rogers said that his favorite athlete is Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Rogers was accepted to study at the London College of Fashion and is a co-owner of Halsey, a menswear fashion company.

He designs, and models for the company; and blogs about men's fashion at Rogers & Becker with friend and stylist Warren Becker.

Rogers started playing soccer at age four-and-a-half at the American Youth Soccer Organization.

At the age of seven, Rogers played soccer in the Coast Soccer League, as well as in various Hispanic leagues.

He attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, where he was a two-time High School All-American in soccer.

In February 2013, Rogers came out as gay, becoming the second male soccer player in Britain to do so after Justin Fashanu in 1990.

After a brief retirement, he became the first openly gay man to compete in a top North American professional sports league when he played his first match for the LA Galaxy in May 2013.

After one season of playing college soccer at the University of Maryland, Rogers attracted the interest of the Dutch Eredivisie side Heerenveen.