Rob Gier

{{Short description|Association football coach and former player (born 1981)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rob Gier

| image =

| fullname = Robert James Dazo Gier

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|01|06}}

| birth_place = Ascot, England

| height =

| position = Centre back

| currentclub = Philippines U22 (head coach)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Ascot United

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = Wimbledon

| years1 = 2000–2004

| clubs1 = Wimbledon

| caps1 = 71

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2004–2006

| clubs2 = Rushden & Diamonds

| caps2 = 67

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2006–2007

| clubs3 = Cambridge United

| caps3 = 17

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2007

| clubs4 = Woking

| caps4 = 7

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2007–2008

| clubs5 = Aldershot Town

| caps5 = 38

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2008–2009

| clubs6 = Grays Athletic

| caps6 = 18

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2009–2016

| clubs7 = Ascot United

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| nationalyears1 = 2009–2015

| nationalteam1 = Philippines

| nationalcaps1 = 66

| nationalgoals1 = 2

|manageryears1 = 2016–2018

|managerclubs1 = Oxford University Women's

|manageryears2 = 2018–2023

|managerclubs2 = Reading F.C. Women (academy manager)

|manageryears3 = 2023–

|managerclubs3 = Philippines U22

}}

Robert James Dazo Gier (born 6 January 1981) is a football coach and former player who is the head coach of the Philippines U22 team. As a player, he was mainly a centre-back.

Born in England, he progressed through the youth system of Wimbledon, making his debut in the Football League First Division in October 2000 and played until their final season. He then played for League Two club Rushden & Diamonds until their relegation in 2006. He then played in the Conference National for Cambridge United, Woking, and Aldershot Town with whom he won the 2007–08 Conference Premier title and Conference League Cup. After a brief spell with Grays Athletic, he spent the remainder of his career with his hometown club Ascot United in the Hellenic Football League.

Eligible to represent the Philippines national team through his mother, Gier made his international debut in 2009. He captained the Philippines in the 2012 and 2014 AFF Championships.

Early life

Rob Gier was born to Robert Gier and Rosario and grew up in Ascot, England. Upon coming from work, Rob's father would often bring him to football training. His mother, Rosario is a Waray from Tacloban, Leyte.{{cite news|last1=Biantan|first1=Jack|title=What really angers the Azkals captain?|url=http://pinoyfootball.com/articles/11101676/What-really-angers-the-Azkals-captain|accessdate=16 March 2015|publisher=Pinoy Football|date=15 March 2015|location=London|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154753/http://pinoyfootball.com/articles/11101676/What-really-angers-the-Azkals-captain|archivedate=2 April 2015}}

Club career

Gier began his career at Wimbledon, who had been relegated from the Premiership in 1999–00 season. He made his debut the following season, starting a 0–0 home draw with Sheffield United on 28 October 2000.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In 2004, he joined Rushden & Diamonds,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/3745683.stm |title=Rushden snap up trio |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2004 |accessdate=3 June 2008 }} and was part of the side that was relegated from the Football League in 2005–06. He left the club following their relegation, and had spells in the Conference with Cambridge United,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/6274549.stm |title=Cambridge to sign defender Hooper |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2007 |accessdate=3 June 2008 }} and Woking during the 2006–07 season.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

He joined Aldershot Town at the start of the 2007–08 season,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/6934485.stm |title=Aldershot boss recruits quartet |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2007 |accessdate=3 June 2008 }} and was part of the side that won the Conference with a record points total. He made 38 league appearances for the club, all starts, but despite this was released at the end of the campaign.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/7375695.stm |title=Aldershot bid farewell to quartet |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2008 |accessdate=22 May 2008 }}

On 22 May 2008, Grays Athletic announced they had signed Gier on a one-year contract,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/7415127.stm |title=Grays Athletic add three to squad |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2008 |accessdate=1 June 2008 }} however, he was transfer listed by the club in January 2009, with financial pressures and manager Wayne Burnett's plans being cited as the reason.{{cite news

| title = Grays place four on transfer list |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/7823934.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2009 |accessdate=12 January 2009 }}

Gier joined Hellenic League Premier Division club Ascot United in November 2009, after being released at the end of the previous season by Grays Athletic.{{cite news

| title = Gier coup for Ascot

| url = http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=62458

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120926060544/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=62458

| url-status = usurped

| archive-date = 26 September 2012

| publisher = Non-League Daily

| date = 20 November 2009

| accessdate = 20 November 2009}} He announced his retirement in February 2016.[http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html Former Azkals captain Rob Gier retires] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224123220/http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html |date=24 February 2016 }} CNN Philippines, 17 February 2016

International career

Gier was called up to the Philippines national team in March 2009, for the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in April, where they were due to face, Turkmenistan, Bhutan and the Maldives.{{cite web |url=http://www.azkalsfootballteam.com/team.php?id=135 |title=Robert James Gier Player Profile |publisher=azkalsfootballteam.com |accessdate=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130117110336/http://www.azkalsfootballteam.com/team.php?id=135 |archivedate=17 January 2013 }} He made his international debut in 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification match against Bhutan on 14 April 2009 and also played against Maldives and Turkmenistan.

On 10 September 2012 Gier scored his first international goal for the Philippines in a 2–1 loss to Laos,{{cite news |url=http://sports.inquirer.net/61744/azkals-yield-to-laotians-in-ill-tempered-friendly |title=Azkals yield to Laotians in ill-tempered 'friendly' |author=Tupas, Cedelf P. |publisher=inquirer.net |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=12 September 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 }} however it was not a FIFA-sanctioned match. FIFA did not recognize the match's results after it was found out that the referees who officiated the match were not recognized by the world sporting body.{{cite web |url=http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/fifa-azkals-loss-to-laos-invalid |title=FIFA: Azkals loss to Laos invalid |author=Decena, Karl |publisher=interaksyon.com |date=12 September 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913233140/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/fifa-azkals-loss-to-laos-invalid |archivedate=13 September 2012 }}

He scored his first official international goal for the Philippines in the 2014 Philippine Peace Cup against Chinese Taipei.{{cite web|title=Azkals dominate Chinese Taipei in rain-delayed match to open Peace Cup |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/377658/sports/football/azkals-dominate-chinese-taipei-in-rain-delayed-match-to-open-peace-cup |author=Roy Moore |work=GMA Network |date=3 September 2014 |accessdate=12 November 2014}}

=International goals=

:Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.

class="wikitable"

! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

3 September 2014

Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila

2014 Philippine Peace Cup

25 November 2014

Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi

2014 AFF Suzuki Cup

=Retirement=

On 17 February 2016 Gier announced his retirement from playing competitive football at the age of 35.{{cite news|last1=Del Rosario|first1=Paolo|title=Former Azkals captain Rob Gier retires|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=CNN Philippines|date=17 February 2016|archive-date=24 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224123220/http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html|url-status=dead}} Gier is set to focus on operating Zenith Soccer Tours and spending more time with his family.{{cite news|last1=Terrado|first1=Jonas|title=Ex-Azkals skipper quits|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/ex-azkals-skipper-quits/|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=Manila Bulletin|date=17 February 2016}}

Earlier in 2014,{{cite news|last1=De Guzman|first1=Icko|title=Rob Gier: Zenith Soccer Tours and What's Next for the Azkals|url=http://football.com.ph/rob-gier-zenith-soccer-tours-and-whats-next-for-the-azkals/|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=Football.com.ph|date=23 March 2015}} Gier established Zenith Soccer Tours, a youth football program in the United Kingdom. The idea was concepted by Gier, after he met with the Philippine national youth team who had a three-week training camp in the UK in 2013.{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Jaelle Nevin|title=Azkals' Gier launches football program in UK|url=http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/football/83193-rob-gier-zenith-soccer-tours|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=Rappler|date=7 February 2016}}

Coaching career

=Oxford University (Women's)=

In November 2016, Gier was appointed as head coach of the women's football team of the University of Oxford.{{cite news|last1=Tupas|first1=Cedelf|title=Gier urges Azkals: Give your all|url=http://sports.inquirer.net/229515/gier-urges-azkals-give-your-all|accessdate=15 November 2016|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=15 November 2016}} He served in this role until May 2018.

Gier obtained a UEFA A coaching licence by September 2017. While still playing for the national team and Ascot United, he began finishing a two-year course to obtain the UEFA A coaching licence. He plans to coach in the United Kingdom while working for a UEFA Pro Licence that would make him eligible to coach in the FA Premier League and UEFA competitions. He has expressed his openness to coach for the Philippine national team.{{cite news|last1=Go|first1=Beatrice|title=Rob Gier to focus on UK coaching career after getting UEFA A license|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/football/181834-rob-gier-coaching-career-uefa-license|accessdate=12 September 2017|work=Rappler|date=11 September 2017}}

=Reading (Women's)=

In 2017, Gier began working with Reading F.C. Women as its women's development coach. He was eventually promoted as the Reading F.C. Women academy manager in July 2018.{{cite news

| title = LinkedIn Profile of Rob Gier |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-gier-68682774/?originalSubdomain=uk |publisher=LinkedIn |date=12 July 2018 |accessdate=14 December 2021 }}

=Philippines U22=

In March 2023, the Philippine Football Federation announced that Rob Gier was appointed as the new head coach of Philippines U22.{{cite web|title=Former Philippines captain Rob Gier named Philippine Men's Under-22 head coach|url=https://pff.org.ph/2023/03/23/former-philippines-captain-rob-gier-named-philippine-mens-under-22-head-coach/|access-date=23 March 2023|website=Philippine Football Federation|date=23 March 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/23/23/rob-gier-to-coach-azkals-u22-squad-for-sea-games|title=Football: Rob Gier to coach Azkals U22 squad for SEA Games|publisher=ABS-CBN News|date=23 March 2023|accessdate=23 March 2023}}{{cite news|last1=del Carmen|first1=Lorenzo|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/rob-gier-to-lead-azkals-u22-in-32nd-sea-games/267090|title=Rob Gier to lead Azkals U22 in 32nd SEA Games|publisher=Tiebreaker Times|date=23 March 2023|accessdate=23 March 2023}}