Robbie Findley

{{For|those of a similar name|Robert Finley|Robert Findlay (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Robbie Findley

|image = Findley.png

|upright = 0.9

|caption = Findley playing for Nottingham Forest

|fullname = Robert Findley

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|8|4}}

|birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona, United States

|height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}

|position = Forward

|collegeyears1 = 2003–2006

|college1 = Oregon State Beavers

|years1 = 2005–2006

|clubs1 = Boulder Rapids Reserve

|caps1 = 17

|goals1 = 15

|years2 = 2007

|clubs2 = LA Galaxy

|caps2 = 9

|goals2 = 2

|years3 = 2007–2010

|clubs3 = Real Salt Lake

|caps3 = 96

|goals3 = 29

|years4 = 2011–2013

|clubs4 = Nottingham Forest

|caps4 = 25

|goals4 = 3

|years5 = 2012

|clubs5 = → Gillingham (loan)

|caps5 = 7

|goals5 = 0

|years6 = 2013–2014

|clubs6 = Real Salt Lake

|caps6 = 41

|goals6 = 7

|years7 = 2015

|clubs7 = Toronto FC

|caps7 = 25

|goals7 = 2

|years8 = 2016

|clubs8 = Rayo OKC

|caps8 = 20

|goals8 = 4

|totalcaps = 240

|totalgoals = 62

|nationalyears1 = 2008

|nationalteam1 = United States U23

|nationalcaps1 = 5

|nationalgoals1 = 0

|nationalyears2 = 2007–2010

|nationalteam2 = United States

|nationalcaps2 = 11

|nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

Robert Findley (born August 4, 1985) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward. He was capped 11 times by the United States national team, having made his international debut in 2007.

Findley played college soccer for the Oregon State Beavers and amateur soccer for the Boulder Rapids Reserve before turning professional in 2007. He played in Major League Soccer for Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, before moving to English club Nottingham Forest in January 2011. After a loan at Gillingham, Findley returned to Real Salt Lake before spells with Toronto FC and Rayo OKC.

Early and personal life

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Findley attended Shadow Mountain High School, graduating in 2003. Findley is a cousin of basketball players Mike Bibby and Eddie House, and American football wide receiver Shaun McDonald. He is of Trinidadian descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldsoccer.com/uncategorized/usa-squad-298487|title=USA squad|date=May 26, 2010}}

Club career

=College and amateur=

Findley began his career playing college soccer at Oregon State University.{{cite web|url=http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/findley_robbie00.html|title=Profile|publisher=Oregon State Beavers|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502185255/http://www.osubeavers.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/findley_robbie00.html|archive-date=May 2, 2012|df=mdy-all}} Later, he spent two seasons with the Boulder Rapids Reserve of the USL Premier Development League.{{cite web|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/433657.html|title=13 USL Alums on US World Cup Roster|date=May 26, 2010|publisher=USL Soccer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524151542/http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/433657.html|archive-date=May 24, 2012|df=mdy-all}}

=Major League Soccer=

Findley was selected by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft as the sixteenth pick overall.{{cite news|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3414988|title=Galaxy select five players in MLS SuperDraft|date=January 12, 2007|access-date=January 5, 2012|work=Our Sports Central}}

On June 21, 2007, Findley was traded along with midfielder Nathan Sturgis to Real Salt Lake in exchange for veteran forward Chris Klein.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasoccernews.com/article.php?article_id=1649 |title=Findley, Sturgis go to RSL |publisher=L.A. Soccer News |access-date= June 5, 2012}} He joined Danish Superliga side Brøndby on trial in January 2009.{{cite web|url=http://avisen.dk/amerikaner-paa-proeve-i-broendby_102590.aspx |title=Amerikaner på prøve i Brøndby |date=January 20, 2009 |publisher=Avisen.dk |access-date= June 5, 2012}} However, he failed to secure a contract with the club and returned to Salt Lake. In the following season, he had three multi-goal matches, including the first hat trick in franchise history.{{cite web|author=Michael Black |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705294898/Real-Salt-Lake-Findley-nets-RSLs-first-ever-hat-trick.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406065820/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705294898/Real-Salt-Lake-Findley-nets-RSLs-first-ever-hat-trick.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 6, 2009 |title=Findley nets RSL's first-ever hat trick |date=April 3, 2009 |publisher=Deseret News |access-date= June 5, 2012}}

In the 2009 MLS Cup Final, Findley scored in the 64th minute, tying the match at 1–1; Salt Lake later emerged victorious in penalty kicks, claiming the MLS Cup in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the MLS Cup final.{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/11/23/realsaltlake.galaxy/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124103229/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jonah_freedman/11/23/realsaltlake.galaxy/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 24, 2009 |title=CNNSI.com - Salt Lake's MLS title brings hope to sporting underdogs everywhere |publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com |date=November 23, 2009 |access-date= June 5, 2012}}

Findley's contract with Real Salt Lake expired at the end of the 2010 MLS season, and he announced his intentions to leave MLS and move to Europe.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/rsl-announce-findley-will-try-luck-overseas|title=RSL announce Findley will try luck overseas|date=November 22, 2010|author=Randy Davis|publisher=Major League Soccer}} Despite this statement of intent, Findley was selected by Portland Timbers in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, enabling Portland to retain his MLS rights should he ever choose to return to the league.{{cite web|author= Jeremiah Oshan |url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2010/11/24/1834795/mls-expansion-draft-analysis-whitecaps-showed-greater-willingness-to |title=MLS Expansion Draft, Analysis: Whitecaps Showed Greater Willingness To Spend |publisher=SBNation.com |date=November 24, 2010 |access-date=November 28, 2012}}

=Nottingham Forest=

After a short trial with English club Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-December 2010, Findley was signed as a free agent by English Championship club Nottingham Forest on December 23, 2010, subject to receiving a work permit. His work permit was approved at a F.A. hearing in London on January 15, 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/nottm_forest/9309365.stm|title=Nottingham Forest sign USA striker Robbie Findley|access-date=December 23, 2010|date=December 23, 2010|publisher=BBC Sport}} Findley incurred a thigh injury in training shortly after joining Forest and became unavailable until Spring 2011.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13078007.stm|title=Nottingham Forest's Robbie Findley close to fitness|access-date=April 14, 2011|date=April 14, 2011|publisher=BBC Sport}} After several months on the sidelines, Findley finally made his debut for Forest on April 22, 2011, coming on as a substitute in a 3–2 victory over East Midlands rivals Leicester City.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13090443.stm|title=Nott'm Forest 3 - 2 Leicester|access-date=April 22, 2011|date=April 22, 2011|author=Paul Fletcher|publisher=BBC Sport}}

Findley made his full competitive debut for Forest on August 8, 2011, in a home fixture against Notts County in the first round of the 2011–12 Football League Cup. Findley scored Forest's second goal—his first goal for the club—after having an earlier effort ruled out for offside. He also converted his penalty in the match's penalty shoot-out, which Forest won.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Match-report-Forest-3-Notts-3-AET-Forest-win-4-3/story-13102287-detail/story.html |title=Match report: Forest 3 Notts 3 AET (Forest win 4-3 on penalties)|publisher=This is Nottingham |date=August 10, 2011 |access-date= June 5, 2012}} Forest manager Steve McClaren said: "He can have a big impact in the Championship. He is as fast as lightning. He is quick, he covers a lot of ground, he works for the team, he defends when he has to and, most importantly, he can get a goal".{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/McClaren-Findley-big-impact-Reds/story-13118013-detail/story.html |title=McClaren: Findley can have big impact with the Reds |publisher=This is Nottingham |date=August 12, 2011 |access-date= June 5, 2012}} After struggling for first-team opportunities in 2012, Findley was loaned to League Two club Gillingham on September 21, 2012, for an initial period of one month.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19676152|title=Gillingham sign Nottingham Forest's Robbie Findley on loan|date=September 21, 2012|publisher=BBC Sport}} He made his debut for Gillingham in a 2–0 away win at Port Vale, and supplied the cross for the first goal.{{cite news|title=Port Vale 0-2 Gillingham|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19615132|publisher=BBC Sport|date=September 22, 2012|access-date=October 27, 2012}} Vale manager Micky Adams stated that "the pace of Findley scared the life out of" his team.{{cite news|title=Threat of Nottingham's Findley helps Gillingham go clear in League Two|url=http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/archive/14948094/threat-nottinghams-findley-helps-gillingham-clear-league/|work=nz.news.yahoo.com|date=September 25, 2012|access-date=October 27, 2012}} After seven appearances for the Gills, Findley returned to Forest.{{cite news|title=Scunthorpe Preview|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/scunthorpe-preview-nov-1-460536.aspx|work=gillinghamfootballclub.com|publisher=Gillingham F.C.|date=November 1, 2012|access-date=November 1, 2012|first=Richard|last=Day}}

On January 14, 2013, Nottingham Forest announced that Findley's contract had been terminated by mutual consent.{{cite news|quote=Nottingham Forest can confirm Robbie Findley has had his contract with the Club cancelled by mutual consent.|title=Robbie Findley|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/robbie-findley-597694.aspx|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=January 14, 2013|work=nottinghamforest.co.uk|access-date=January 14, 2013|first=Fraser|last=Nicholson}}

=Return to Major League Soccer=

Following his release from Forest, Real Salt Lake acquired Findley's MLS rights from Portland in exchange for allocation money and re-signed him on January 16, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.realsaltlake.com/news/2013/01/real-salt-lake-acquires-rights-robbie-findley-portland|title=Real Salt Lake acquires rights to Robbie Findley from Portland|work=Real Salt Lake |publisher=MLS|date=January 16, 2013|access-date=November 30, 2017}}

On December 1, 2014, it was announced that Salt Lake had declined their option on Findley's contract.{{cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/12/01/real-salt-lake-begin-retooling-roster-decline-options-robbie-findley-three-o |title=Real Salt Lake begin retooling roster, decline options on Robbie Findley, three others | MLSsoccer.com |access-date=2014-12-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203194717/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/12/01/real-salt-lake-begin-retooling-roster-decline-options-robbie-findley-three-o |archive-date=December 3, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} Findley entered the 2014 MLS Re-Entry Draft on December 12, 2014, and was chosen in the first round of stage one by Toronto FC.{{cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/12/12/former-sporting-kansas-city-goalkeepers-eric-kronberg-andy-gruenebaum-taken- |title=Former Sporting Kansas City goalkeepers Eric Kronberg, Andy Gruenebaum taken in Re-Entry Draft | MLSsoccer.com |access-date=2014-11-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228154028/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/12/12/former-sporting-kansas-city-goalkeepers-eric-kronberg-andy-gruenebaum-taken- |archive-date=December 28, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} He scored a goal in his first game for Toronto to start the 2015 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2015/03/07/toronto-fc-defeats-vancouver-in-season-opener.html|title= Toronto FC defeats Vancouver in season opener Jozy Altidore scores twice and Robbie Findley adds one in 3-1 victory over Whitecaps.|last= Clipperton |first= Joshua |date=7 March 2015|publisher=Toronto Star|access-date=8 March 2015}} Findley would go on to finish the season scoring 2 goals for Toronto FC.

On February 10, 2016, it was reported that Findley was no longer with Toronto FC.{{cite web|url=http://torontoreds.com/2016/02/10/robbie-findley-released-by-toronto-fc/|title=Robbie Findley Released by Toronto FC|publisher=FanSided Inc.|date=February 9, 2016|access-date=November 30, 2017}}

=NASL=

On February 24, 2016, Findley signed a contract with Rayo OKC of the NASL, the second tier in the American soccer pyramid.{{cite news|url=http://www.rayookc.com/news/2016/02/24/rayo-okc-signs-us-national-team-veteran-robbie-findley|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227022524/http://www.rayookc.com/news/2016/02/24/rayo-okc-signs-us-national-team-veteran-robbie-findley|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 27, 2016|title= Rayo OKC signs Robbie Findley|date=24 February 2016|publisher=rayookc.com|access-date=24 February 2016}} On April 22, 2016, Findley scored his first goal for Rayo OKC in a 3–2 victory over Miami FC.{{cite news|url=http://www.nasl.com/news/2016/04/22/rayo-okc-grinds-out-first-nasl-win-topping-miami-fc-3-2|title= RAYO OKC GRINDS OUT FIRST NASL WIN, EDGING MIAMI FC IN 3-2 THRILLER|date=22 April 2016|publisher=nasl.com|access-date=22 April 2016}}

On March 6, 2018, Findley announced his retirement from professional soccer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rslsoapbox.com/2018/3/6/17088720/former-rsl-striker-robbie-findley-retires|title=Former RSL striker Robbie Findley retires|work=RSL Soapbox|access-date=2018-03-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf_okBaBSZF/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bf_okBaBSZF |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|title=Robbie Findley on Instagram: "Recently I was asked where I was now playing. Although I've already made the decision to retire from professional soccer I have yet to…"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2018-03-19}}{{cbignore}}

International career

Findley made his international debut for the United States national team in October 2007{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/robbie-findley|title=Profile|publisher=Major League Soccer}}{{NFT player|id=9720|accessdate=}} and made three appearances at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, starting at forward for the US against England and Slovenia in the group stage of the tournament, as well as starting in the round of 16 match against Ghana.{{FIFA player|296249}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|Boulder Rapids Reserve \|2005 \|9	10	–	–	–	–	–	–	9	2
2006 \|8	5	–	–	–	–	–	–	8	5
Total !17	15	–	–	–	–	–	–	17	15
rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Los Angeles Galaxy \|2007 \|9	2	–	–	0	0	–	–	9	2
Total !9	2	–	–	0	0	–	–	9	2
rowspan="5" valign="center"\|Real Salt Lake \|2007 \|16	6	–	–	0	0	–	–	16	6
2008 \|29	6	–	–	3	0	–	–	32	6
2009 \|27	12	–	–	4	3	–	–	31	15
2010 \|24	5	–	–	2	1	6	0	32	6
Total !96	29	–	–	9	4	6	0	111	33
rowspan="4" valign="center"\|Nottingham Forest \|2010–11 \|2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
2011–12 \|23	3	1	0	3	3	0	0	27	6
2012–13 \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total !25	3	1	0	3	3	0	0	29	6
rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Gillingham (loan) \|2012–13 \|7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Total !7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
rowspan="3" valign="center"\|Real Salt Lake \|2013 \|25	6	4	0	5	2	–	–	34	8
2014 \|16	1	1	1	1	0	–	–	18	2
Total !41	7	5	1	6	2	–	–	52	10
rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Toronto FC \|2015 \|25	2	–	–	1	0	–	–	26	2
Total !25	2	–	–	1	0	–	–	26	2
rowspan="2" valign="center"\|Rayo OKC \|2016 \|20	4	1	0	1	0	–	–	22	4
Total !20	4	–	–	1	0	–	–	22	4
colspan="2"\|Career total !240	62	7	1	20	9	6	0	273	72