Login
Login

Carl Robinson

{{short description|Welsh footballer and coach (born 1976)}}

{{about|the Welsh footballer|the English footballer|Karl Robinson}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Carl Robinson

| image = 2015-03-02 Carl Robinson.jpg

| caption = Robinson with Vancouver in 2015

| full_name = Carl Philip Robinson{{Hugman|16898|access-date=24 December 2024}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|10|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Llandrindod Wells, Wales

| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/2549/Carl-Robinson/overview |title=Carl Robinson: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=24 December 2024}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers

| years1 = 1995–2002

| clubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers

| caps1 = 154

| goals1 = 19

| years2 = 1996

| clubs2 = → Shrewsbury Town (loan)

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2002–2004

| clubs3 = Portsmouth

| caps3 = 16

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2003

| clubs4 = → Sheffield Wednesday (loan)

| caps4 = 4

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2003

| clubs5 = → Walsall (loan)

| caps5 = 11

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2003

| clubs6 = → Rotherham United (loan)

| caps6 = 14

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2004

| clubs7 = → Sheffield United (loan)

| caps7 = 5

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2004

| clubs8 = → Sunderland (loan)

| caps8 = 7

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2004–2006

| clubs9 = Sunderland

| caps9 = 45

| goals9 = 4

| years10 = 2005–2006

| clubs10 = → Norwich City (loan)

| caps10 = 7

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2006–2007

| clubs11 = Norwich City

| caps11 = 42

| goals11 = 2

| years12 = 2007–2010

| clubs12 = Toronto FC

| caps12 = 74

| goals12 = 3

| years13 = 2010–2011

| clubs13 = New York Red Bulls

| caps13 = 12

| goals13 = 1

| totalcaps = 406

| totalgoals = 32

| nationalyears1 = 1995–1997

| nationalteam1 = Wales U21

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1998

| nationalteam2 = Wales B

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 1999–2009

| nationalteam3 = Wales

| nationalcaps3 = 52

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| manageryears1 = 2013–2018

| managerclubs1 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC

| manageryears2 = 2020

| managerclubs2 = Newcastle Jets

| manageryears3 = 2020–2022

| managerclubs3 = Western Sydney Wanderers

}}

Carl Philip Robinson (born 13 October 1976) is a Welsh former international footballer who played as a central midfielder. He is currently the assistant coach at Atlanta United FC.

Early life

Robinson was born and raised in Llandrindod Wells,{{Cite web |last=dcunited |title=D.C. United Appoint Carl Robinson as Assistant Coach {{!}} DC United |url=https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-appoint-carl-robinson-as-assistant-coach |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=dcunited |language=en}} where he attended Oxford Road Primary School and Llandrindod High School.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-30 |title=From formidable midfield partnership with Carl Robinson to coaching at Ryder Cup |url=https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/19617328.midfield-partnership-carl-robinson-ryder-cup-coach/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=County Times |language=en}}

Club career

=Wolverhampton Wanderers=

Robinson started his career as a trainee with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was promoted to the first-team for the 1995–96 season.

==Loan to Shrewsbury Town==

On 28 March 1996, Robinson was sent on loan to Shrewsbury Town for the remainder of the season to gain first-team experience. Two days later, Robinson made his professional debut against Hull City in a 1–1 draw at Gay Meadow in front of 2,346 supporters. He made five appearances for The Shrews: four in the league and one in The Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium in a 2–1 defeat against Rotherham United on 14 April 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/familiar-role-for-jemson-1304918.html|title=Familiar role for Jemson|website=Independent|date=14 April 1996|accessdate=13 February 2021}}

==Return to Wolves==

Following his loan spell at Shrewsbury Town, Robinson returned to Wolves for the 1996–97 season, making his club debut that year. He would go on to become a regular with the first-team over the next six seasons as the club challenged regularly for promotion to the Premier League and made a memorable run to the semifinals of the 1997–98 FA Cup, losing to eventual champions Arsenal. Robinson was released by Wolves in June 2002 at the expiry of his contract.

=Portsmouth=

After over 180 appearances for Wolves over six seasons, he moved to Portsmouth in July 2002 under the Bosman ruling. He played 15 league games for Portsmouth in the first half of their Championship season{{Soccerbase season|9094|2002|name=Carl Robinson|access-date=2019-06-25}} before finishing the season with loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday (where he scored once against future club Norwich){{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2715895.stm

|title=Sheff Weds 2–2 Norwich

|publisher=BBC

|date=13 February 2003 |access-date=22 December 2010}} and Walsall, where he scored once against Bradford City.{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/2789885.stm

|title=Bradford 1–2 Walsall

|publisher=BBC

|date=1 March 2003 |access-date=22 December 2010}} The following season he was loaned out again, this time to Rotherham, Sheffield United and Sunderland. However between these loan spells he did return to Portsmouth to make one Premier League appearance against Chelsea.{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3349111.stm

|title=Chelsea 3-0 Portsmouth

|publisher=BBC

|date=28 December 2003 |access-date=25 June 2019}}

=Sunderland=

After impressing at Sunderland he signed a three-year deal in June 2004. He then went on to collect another championship winners medal as they gained promotion during a season in which he played 42 of 46 matches to become a fan's favourite.

=Norwich City=

After a loan spell with Norwich City, he signed for The Canaries permanently on a 2.5 year deal for an undisclosed fee in January 2006. Robinson scored his first goal for Norwich in a 5–1 win against Barnsley on 26 August 2006.

=Toronto FC=

On 31 January 2007, Robinson joined Toronto FC from Norwich after just over a year at Carrow Road, even though he still had 18 months remaining on his deal with Norwich. He scored his first MLS goal when he netted Toronto's third in a 4–0 win against FC Dallas on 17 June 2007. He was voted team MVP in his first year and repeated in his second year at the club.

=New York Red Bulls=

In March 2010 he was traded from Toronto FC to the New York Red Bulls to join Hans Backe for a fourth-round pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/no-hard-feelings-on-robinson-toronto-fc-1.922199 |first=John F.|last=Molinaro| publisher=CBC Sports | title=No hard feelings on Robinson: Toronto FC | date=10 March 2010}} On 20 March 2010, Robinson started for New York in a 3–1 victory against Santos FC, which was the first match played at the new Red Bull Arena.{{cite web |url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=22956 |title=THE STARTING XI Salou, Kandji partner up top |publisher=Bigapplesoccer.com |date=20 March 2010 |access-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201611/http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=22956 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} On 21 August 2010, he scored his first goal for New York Red Bulls in a 4–1 road victory against his old club Toronto FC and refused to celebrate due to his relationship with the supporters.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/ex-tfc-star-robinson-a-class-act-1.972087|title=Ex-TFC star Robinson a class act|first=John F.|last=Molinaro|publisher=CBC Sports|date=21 August 2010}} During his time at New York Red Bulls he became a player coach.

International career

A Wales international player, Robinson made his debut against Belarus in 1999, winning the man of the match award. His 50th cap came in the 2–0 World Cup Qualifier victory over Liechtenstein. On 1 April 2009, Robinson announced his retirement from international football at the age of 32 with 52 caps after Wales suffered two consecutive defeats, making it virtually impossible for them to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7978049.stm "Robinson takes Wales retirement"] BBC Sport Retrieved on 2 April 2009

Coaching career

=Vancouver Whitecaps FC=

In January 2012, Robinson retired as a player and joined the Vancouver Whitecaps FC as an assistant coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2012/01/whitecaps-fc-solidify-mls-coaching-staff |title=Whitecaps FC solidify MLS coaching staff | Vancouver Whitecaps FC |publisher=Whitecapsfc.com |date=20 January 2012 |access-date=15 December 2013}} He took over as the head coach of the club in December 2013.{{cite news|title=Vancouver Whitecaps introduce Carl Robinson as head coach|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Whitecaps+expected+name+Carl+Robinson+head+coach+Monday/9289972/story.html|access-date=16 December 2013|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date=16 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220020121/http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Whitecaps%2Bexpected%2Bname%2BCarl%2BRobinson%2Bhead%2Bcoach%2BMonday/9289972/story.html|archive-date=20 December 2013|df=dmy-all}} The club parted ways with Robinson on 25 September with 5 games remaining in the 2018 season after just under 5 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2018/09/25/vancouver-whitecaps-fc-release-head-coach-carl-robinson |title=Vancouver Whitecaps FC release head coach Carl Robinson |publisher=Whitecapsfc.com |date=25 September 2018 |access-date=25 September 2018}} He amassed just under 200 games as Caps boss in his stay.

=Newcastle Jets=

In February 2020, Robinson signed a three-and-a-half-year contract as the head coach of Australian A-League club Newcastle Jets.{{cite news|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/6618302/newcastle-jets-sign-welshman-carl-robinson-as-head-coach/|title=Newcastle Jets sign Welshman Carl Robinson as head coach|first=Robert|last=Dillon|newspaper=The Newcastle Herald|date=6 February 2020}} On 14 October 2020, the Jets announced that Robinson was in talks with Western Sydney Wanderers.{{Cite web|date=14 October 2020|title=Club statement: Carl Robinson|url=https://www.newcastlejets.com.au/news/club-statement-carl-robinson|access-date=15 October 2020|website=Newcastle Jets|language=en}}

=Western Sydney Wanderers=

On 15 October 2020, Western Sydney Wanderers announced the signing of Robinson from Newcastle Jets.{{Cite web|date=15 October 2020|title=Wanderers announce Carl Robinson as head coach|url=https://www.wswanderersfc.com.au/news/wanderers-announce-carl-robinson-head-coach|access-date=15 October 2020|website=Western Sydney Wanderers|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Clarke|first=George|date=2021-12-25|title=Culture criticism riles Wanderers coach|url=https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/7563606/culture-criticism-riles-wanderers-coach/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Bendigo Advertiser|language=en-AU}} On 30 January 2022 Wanderers relieved Robinson of his duties and thanked him for his time at the club.{{Cite web|date=30 January 2022|title=Wanderers relieve Carl Robinson as head coach|url=https://wswanderersfc.com.au/news/robinson-relieved-of-duties-2|access-date=31 January 2022|website=Western Sydney Wanderers|language=en}}

=Birmingham City=

Having worked with Wayne Rooney at Major League Soccer club D.C. United, Robinson followed him to EFL Championship club Birmingham City in October 2023 as a first-team coach.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/carl-robinson-relishing-championship-challenge |title=Carl Robinson relishing Championship challenge |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=19 October 2023 |access-date=20 October 2023}} After fifteen matches, which included nine defeats and only two wins, Rooney and Robinson were dismissed on 2 January 2024.{{Cite web |last=Tanner |first=Rob |title=Birmingham sack manager Rooney |url=https://theathletic.com/5173131/2024/01/02/wayne-rooney-sacked-birmingham/ |date=2 January 2024 |access-date=16 May 2024 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}

Career statistics

class=wikitable style=text-align:center

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Canadian Championship, U.S. Open Cup}}

!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup, Football League Trophy}}

!colspan="2"|Continental{{efn|Includes CONCACAF Champions League}}

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shrewsbury Town (loan)

|1995–96

|Second Division

|4

00010colspan="2"|–50
rowspan="8"|Wolverhampton Wanderers

|1995–96{{cite book |author=Matthews, Tony |title=Wolverhampton Wanderers: The Complete Record |year=2008 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |isbn=978-1-85983-632-3}}

|First Division

|0

00000colspan="2"|—00
1996–97

|First Division

|2

00000colspan="2"|—20
1997–98

|First Division

|32

37140colspan="2"|—434
1998–99

|First Division

|24

82010colspan="2"|—278
1999–2000

|First Division

|33

33120colspan="2"|—384
2000–01

|First Division

|40

32151colspan="2"|—475
2001–02

|First Division

|23

20010colspan="2"|—242
colspan="2"|Total

!154

19143131colspan="2"|—18123
rowspan="3"|Portsmouth

|2002–03

|First Division

|15

00020colspan="2"|—170
2003–04

|Premier League

|1

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—30
colspan="2"|Total

!16

02020colspan="2"|—200
Sheffield Wednesday (loan)

|2002–03

|First Division

|4

100colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—41
Walsall (loan)

|2002–03

|First Division

|11

100colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—111
Rotherham United (loan)

|2003–04

|Championship

|14

0colspan="2" |—20colspan="2" |—160
Sheffield United (loan)

|2003–04

|Championship

|5

0colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—50
Sunderland (loan)

|2003–04

|Championship

|7

1colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—71
rowspan="3"|Sunderland

|2004–05

|Championship

|40

42010colspan="2"|—434
2005–06

|Premier League

|5

00020colspan="2"|—70
colspan="2"|Total

!52

52030colspan="2"|—575
rowspan="3"|Norwich City

|2005–06

|Championship

|22

00000colspan="2"|—220
2006–07

|Championship

|27

22000colspan="2"|—292
colspan="2"|Total

!49

22000colspan="2"|—512
rowspan="4"|Toronto FC

|2007

|MLS

|26

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—262
2008

|MLS

|27

140colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—311
2009

|MLS

|21

040colspan="2"|—20270
colspan="2"|Total

!74

380colspan="2"|—20843
rowspan="3"|New York Red Bulls

|2010

|MLS

|10

100colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—101
2011

|MLS

|2

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—20
colspan="2"|Total

!12

100colspan="2" |—colspan="2"|—121
colspan="3"|Career total

!392

322832012041536

{{notelist}}

Managerial statistics

{{updated|match played 18 May 2022 | {{cite web |title=Carl Robinson |url=https://aleaguestats.com/A-League_41_72CoachingHistory.html |website=ALeagueStats |access-date=17 May 2022}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2" |Team

! rowspan="2" |Nat

! rowspan="2" |From

! rowspan="2"|To

! colspan="8" |Record

{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

align=left|Vancouver Whitecaps

|{{Flagicon|CAN}}

|align=left|16 December 2013

|align=left|25 September 2018

{{WDL|199|78|49|72|for=276|against=275|diff=yes}}

align=left|Newcastle Jets

|{{Flagicon|AUS}}

|align=left|6 February 2020

|align=left|15 October 2020

{{WDL|11|7|3|1|for=19|against=9|diff=yes}}

align=left|Western Sydney Wanderers

|{{Flagicon|AUS}}

|align=left|15 October 2020

|align=left|30 January 2022

{{WDL|35|11|11|13|for=55|against=41|diff=yes}}

colspan="4"|Total

{{WDLtot|245|95|63|87|for=350|against=325|diff=yes}}

Honours

=Player=

{{BLP sources section|date=August 2021}}

Shrewsbury Town

Portsmouth

  • Championship: 2001–02

Sunderland

  • Championship: 2004–05

Individual

  • Red Patch Boys Player of the Year: 2007 & 2008{{cite web|url=http://redpatchboys.ca/about/player-awards/|title=RFB Toronto FC "Man of the Year" Award|publisher=redpatchboys.ca|access-date=1 July 2018}}
  • Sunderland Fans player of year: 2004

=Manager=

{{BLP unsourced section|date=August 2021}}

Vancouver Whitecaps

  • 2014 – Western conference playoffs
  • 2015 – Runner up Western Conference / Western conference semifinals
  • 2015 – Coach of year candidate
  • 2015 – Canadian Voyageurs Cup winner
  • 2016 – Concacaf Champions league semifinals
  • 2016 – Canadian Voyageurs Cup runner-up
  • 2017 – Western Conference semifinals
  • 2017 – Coach of year candidate
  • 2018 – Canadian Voyageurs Cup runner-up

Newcastle Jets

  • Coach of year candidate: 2020

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{MLS player|carl-robinson}}

{{D.C. United squad}}

{{navbox|

|title = Coaching positions

|list1 =

{{Vancouver Whitecaps FC coaches}}

{{Newcastle Jets FC head coaches}}

{{Western Sydney Wanderers FC head coaches}}

}}

{{navbox|

|title = Awards

| titlestyle = background:gold;

| list1 =

{{Canadian Championship winning managers}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Carl}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Llandrindod Wells

Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in Canada

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:Norwich City F.C. players

Category:People educated at Ysgol Calon Cymru

Category:Portsmouth F.C. players

Category:Premier League players

Category:New York Red Bulls players

Category:Rotherham United F.C. players

Category:Sheffield United F.C. players

Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players

Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players

Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Toronto FC players

Category:Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coaches

Category:Newcastle Jets FC managers

Category:Western Sydney Wanderers FC managers

Category:Western Sydney Wanderers FC non-playing staff

Category:Wales men's international footballers

Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Walsall F.C. players

Category:Welsh expatriate football managers

Category:Welsh expatriate men's footballers

Category:Welsh expatriate sportspeople in Canada

Category:Welsh football managers

Category:Welsh men's footballers

Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players

Category:Vancouver Whitecaps FC non-playing staff

Category:Welsh expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:Birmingham City F.C. non-playing staff