Robin Fraser

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Robin Fraser

| image = Robin Fraser.jpg

| caption = Fraser in 2017

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|17}}

| birth_place = Kingston, Jamaica

| height = 6ft 1in

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Toronto FC (head coach)

| collegeyears1 = 1985–1988

| college1 = FIU Golden Panthers

| collegecaps1 =

| collegegoals1 =

| years1 = 1988–1989

| clubs1 = Miami Sharks

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1990–1995

| clubs2 = Colorado Foxes

| caps2 = 93

| goals2 = 6

| years3 = 1996–2000

| clubs3 = Los Angeles Galaxy

| caps3 = 129

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2001–2003

| clubs4 = Colorado Rapids

| caps4 = 74

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2004–2005

| clubs5 = Columbus Crew

| caps5 = 57

| goals5 = 0

| totalcaps = 353+

| totalgoals = 7+

| nationalyears1 = 1988–2001

| nationalteam1 = United States

| nationalcaps1 = 27

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2007–2011

| managerclubs1 = Real Salt Lake (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2011–2012

| managerclubs2 = Chivas USA

| manageryears3 = 2013–2014

| managerclubs3 = New York Red Bulls (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2015–2019

| managerclubs4 = Toronto FC (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2019–2023

| managerclubs5 = Colorado Rapids

| manageryears6 = 2025–

| managerclubs6 = Toronto FC

| medaltemplates =

}}

Robin Fraser (born December 17, 1966) is an American soccer coach and former player. He is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Toronto FC. He previously served as head coach of Colorado Rapids and Chivas USA and as an assistant for Real Salt Lake, Toronto, and the New York Red Bulls.

A former defender, Fraser played six seasons in the American Professional Soccer League and ten in Major League Soccer. He earned 27 caps with the United States national team between 1988 and 2001.

Youth and college

Fraser was born in Jamaica and grew up in Miami, Florida where he played soccer at Miami Palmetto High School. He played college soccer at Florida International University from 1984 to 1988, leading the team to an NCAA Division II Championship as a freshman. After the team moved to Division I before the 1987 season, he was recognized as a 1987 and 1988 second-team All-American,{{Cite web |url=http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1987 |title=1987 All American |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614233809/http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1987 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1988 |title=1988 All American |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615004454/http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1988 |url-status=dead }} and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy as a senior.

Playing career

=Professional=

In 1988, Fraser signed with the Miami Sharks in the American Soccer League. He played two seasons with the Sharks. In 1990, he moved to the Colorado Foxes of the American Professional Soccer League, for whom he played from 1990 to 1995. While with the Foxes, Fraser was named an APSL All-Star four straight years, from 1992 to his final season in 1995.

When Major League Soccer was created, he was the Los Angeles Galaxy's first selection (fourth overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. Fraser played five seasons with Galaxy, and was named to the league's Best XI four times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000), and was named MLS Defender of the Year in 1999.

Fraser was traded to the Colorado Rapids in a salary-cap-related move before the 2001 season. He spent three years in Colorado, before being traded to the Columbus Crew for two draft picks. Fraser anchored the Crew defense in 2004, and was once again considered one of the best in MLS at the position, winning his second Defender of the Year award and being named to his fifth Best XI while captaining the Crew to the Supporters' Shield. During the 2003 and 2004 season, Fraser helped mentor two of MLS's most promising young defenders, Nat Borchers and Chad Marshall. Never a big scorer, Fraser only scored one regular season and one playoff goal in his entire MLS career. He retired after the 2005 season.{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=MLS original Robin Fraser retires |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-original-robin-fraser-retires |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226231643/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-original-robin-fraser-retires |archive-date=2023-02-26 |access-date=2023-02-26 |work=MLSsoccer.com |language=en}}

Fraser was honored as one of The 25 Greatest players in MLS history on December 10, 2020.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The 25 Greatest|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/the-25-greatest-presented-by-att|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209182219/https://www.mlssoccer.com/the-25-greatest-presented-by-att|archive-date=December 9, 2020|access-date=|website=|url-status=dead}}

=International=

Although Fraser was born in Jamaica, he chose to represent the United States at the international level, after becoming a citizen in June 1986. He made his debut against Chile on June 1, 1988, and amassed 27 caps. His last came in a scoreless tie with Ecuador on June 7, 2001.

Coaching career

=Early Career & Chivas USA=

During the late 90s, Robin Fraser and Greg Vanney co-coached a local girls soccer club in Los Angeles California known as the Santa Anita Soccer Club or SASC.

In 2007, Real Salt Lake hired Fraser as a third assistant coach. On January 4, 2011, Fraser was hired as the new head coach of Chivas USA, becoming the team's sixth coach in seven years.[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_/ai_n19341323 RSL welcomes Fraser as assistant coach]

Fraser was dismissed by Chivas after a two-year run saw him post a 15–32–21 record, including a 14-match winless streak in his second season.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/11/09/chivas-part-ways-fraser-vanney-restructuring-continues|title=Chivas part ways with Fraser as restructuring continues|publisher=MLS|date=November 9, 2012|access-date=December 7, 2017}} During the off-season, he was named as an assistant coach for the New York Red Bulls under new head coach Mike Petke.{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2013/01/red-bulls-name-robin-fraser-assistant-coach|title=Red Bulls Name Robin Fraser Assistant Coach|publisher=MLS|date=January 30, 2013|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-date=February 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210135522/http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2013/01/red-bulls-name-robin-fraser-assistant-coach|url-status=dead}}

After two season in New York, Fraser moved to Toronto FC, where served as assistant coach alongside head coach Greg Vanney. The two previously had worked together with Chivas USA, albeit in reversed roles, with Fraser the head man and Vanney working underneath him.{{cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/08/toronto-fc-announce-hiring-ex-new-york-red-bulls-staffer-robin-fraser-assist |title=Toronto FC announce hiring of ex-New York Red Bulls staffer Robin Fraser as assistant coach | MLSsoccer.com |access-date=January 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111020125/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/08/toronto-fc-announce-hiring-ex-new-york-red-bulls-staffer-robin-fraser-assist |archive-date=January 11, 2015 }}

=Colorado Rapids=

On August 25, 2019, Fraser became the head coach for Colorado Rapids, following the dismissal of then intern head coach Conor Casey. The Rapids won their first three games under Fraser and won five of their last seven to close 2019 just shy of the playoffs.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MLS Results Map 2019|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/results/2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112193007/https://www.mlssoccer.com/results/2019|archive-date=January 12, 2020|access-date=|website=|url-status=dead}} Colorado ended the season tied for the third-most goals scored in MLS with 58, the club's highest total since scoring 62 in 1998.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Colorado Rapids 2019 Season By The Numbers|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2019/11/08/colorado-rapids-2019-season-numbers|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

The Rapids' offensive growth continued in 2020. Colorado scored 32 goals in 18 games. The Rapids' 1.78 goals per game ranked sixth in MLS. Colorado posted a positive goal differential for the first time since 2016.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=In 2020, Colorado Rapids Took Steps Toward Future Success|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2020/11/25/2020-colorado-rapids-took-steps-toward-future-success|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}} On Sep 12, Colorado defeated Real Salt Lake, 5–0, earning its first ever win at Rio Tinto Stadium and reclaiming the Rocky Mountain Cup.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Youth on Display in Dominant Win Over RSL|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2020/09/14/youth-display-dominant-win-over-rsl|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}} The win also marked the Rapids' largest margin of victory ever, which they would match three games later in a 5–0 win over San Jose Earthquakes.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MLS Match Center|url=https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2020-09-23-colorado-rapids-vs-san-jose-earthquakes/recap|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}} Fraser led Colorado on a three-game winning streak, the second of his Rapids tenure, to close out the regular season and clinch a berth in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MLS Match Center|url=https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2020-11-08-houston-dynamo-vs-colorado-rapids/recap|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}} Fraser posted the best 25-game start of any Rapids head coach in history, scoring 47 goals, winning 13 games and earning 43 points, which are the most by a Rapids head coach since the introduction of draws to MLS In 2000.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=In 2020, the Colorado Rapids Set Foundation for 2021 Success|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2020/11/25/2020-colorado-rapids-took-steps-toward-future-success|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

On March 23, 2022, the Rapids announced that Fraser had signed a new contract with the team, extending his tenure through the 2025 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-sign-head-coach-robin-fraser-to-multi-year-extension|title=Colorado Rapids sign head coach Robin Fraser to multi-year extension|work=MLSsoccer.com.com|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2022}} Fraser and the Rapids parted ways on September 5, 2023, as the Rapids were in last place in the Western Conference at that point in time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-part-ways-with-head-coach-robin-fraser|title=Colorado Rapids part ways with head coach Robin Fraser|work=MLSsoccer.com|date=September 5, 2023|access-date=February 25, 2024}}

=Toronto FC=

On January 10, 2025, Fraser was announced as the head coach of Toronto FC on a three-year contract.{{Cite web |title=Toronto FC appoint Robin Fraser as Head Coach {{!}} Toronto FC |url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-appoint-robin-fraser-as-head-coach |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=torontofc |language=en}}

Coaching statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Coaching record by team and tenure
rowspan="2" \|Team ! rowspan="2" \|Nat ! rowspan="2" \|From ! rowspan="2"\|To ! colspan="8" \|Record !rowspan=2\|{{abbr\|Ref\|Reference}}
{{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\|Chivas USA \|{{Flagicon\|USA}} \|align=left\|January 4, 2011 \|align=left\|November 9, 2012 {{WDL\|73\|18\|21\|34\|for=71\|against=109\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web \|title=Chivas USA: Matches \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/united-states/club-deportivo-chivas-usa/3842/\|work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=April 17, 2019}}
align=left\|Colorado Rapids \|{{Flagicon\|USA}} \|align=left\|August 25, 2019 \|align=left\|September 5, 2023 {{WDL\|129\|46\|34\|49\|for=170\|against=186\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web \|title=Colorado Rapids: Matches \|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/united-states/colorado-rapids/2278/\|work=Soccerway \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=April 17, 2019}}
align=left\|Toronto FC \|{{Flagicon\|CAN}} \|align=left\|January 10, 2025 \|align=left\|present {{WDL\|18\|3\|5\|10\|for=20\|against=26\|diff=yes}} \|
colspan="4"\|Total {{WDLtot\|220\|67\|60\|93\|for=261\|against=321\|diff=yes}} !

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

|+ Coaching record by team and tenure

rowspan="2" |Team

! rowspan="2" |Nat

! rowspan="2" |From

! rowspan="2"|To

! colspan="8" |Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!{{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|Chivas USA

|{{Flagicon|USA}}

|align=left|January 4, 2011

|align=left|November 9, 2012

|{{cite web |title=Chivas USA: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/united-states/club-deportivo-chivas-usa/3842/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=April 17, 2019}}

align=left|Colorado Rapids

|{{Flagicon|USA}}

|align=left|August 25, 2019

|align=left|September 5, 2023

|{{cite web |title=Colorado Rapids: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/united-states/colorado-rapids/2278/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=April 17, 2019}}

align=left|Toronto FC

|{{Flagicon|CAN}}

|align=left|January 10, 2025

|align=left|present

colspan="4"|Total

Honors

=Player=

MLS Cup
Runner-up: 1996, 1999
MLS Supporters' Shield
Winner: 1998, 2004
Runner-up: 1996, 1999
MLS Eastern Conference
Winners (Regular Season): 2004
MLS Western Conference
Winners (Regular Season): 1996, 1998, 1999
Winners (Playoffs): 1996, 1999
CONCACAF Champions' Cup
Winners: 2000
Runner-up: 1997

=Assistant coach=

MLS Cup
Winners: 2009, 2017
MLS Supporters' Shield
Winners: 2017
Runners-up: 2010
MLS Eastern Conference
Winners (Playoff): 2009, 2016
Canadian Championship
Winners: 2016, 2017, 2018
CONCACAF Champions League
Runners-up: 2018

=Individual=

MLS All-Star: 1996, 1998,{{Cite web |date=August 2, 1998 |title=1998 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1998-mls-all-star-game-373141 |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=MLSsoccer.com}} 1999,{{Cite web |date=July 17, 1999 |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}} 2000{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2000 |title=2000 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2000-mls-all-star-game-373143 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 28, 2023}}
MLS Best XI: 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004{{Cite web |date=January 2023 |title=2022 Fact & Record Book |page=184 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/about/fact-and-record-book |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=July 28, 2023}}
MLS Defender of the Year: 1999, 2004{{rp|178}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080516085205/http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/men/fraser.htm Soccer Times player profile]
{{NFT player|pid=11441}}

{{Navboxes

| title = United States squads

| bg = white

| fg = #002868

| bordercolor = #BF0A30

| list1 =

}}

{{Navboxes

|title=Awards

|bg=gold

|fg=navy

|list1=