 Rogers in a press conference for theU.S. national team in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Hampton Rogers III[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1987-05-12)May 12, 1987 (age 37) | ||
| Place of birth | Rancho Palos Verdes, California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger,full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002 | IMG Soccer Academy | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005 | Maryland Terrapins | 22 | (7) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005 | Orange County Blue Star | 3 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Heerenveen | 0 | (0) |
| 2007–2011 | Columbus Crew | 106 | (13) |
| 2012–2013 | Leeds United | 4 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | →Stevenage (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2013–2017 | LA Galaxy | 78 | (2) |
| 2014–2016 | →LA Galaxy II (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| Total | 203 | (15) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2007 | United States U20 | 15 | (3) |
| 2008 | United States U23 | 5 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | United States | 18 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert Hampton Rogers III (born May 12, 1987) is an American former professionalsoccer player. He played as awinger and as a left back.[3] Rogers has also represented theUnited States men's national soccer team. In February 2013, Rogerscame out as gay, becoming the second male soccer player in Britain to do so afterJustin Fashanu in 1990.[4] 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 theLA Galaxy in May 2013.[5][6]
After one season of playingcollege soccer at theUniversity of Maryland,[7] Rogers attracted the interest of the DutchEredivisie sideHeerenveen. He signed for Heerenveen in August 2006 but failed to make any first-team appearances. He left the club by mutual consent in February 2007, and returned to the United States to sign forColumbus Crew. Rogers' four-year tenure at Columbus Crew was a successful one, with the player breaking through into the first-team, as well as securing anMLS Cup title in 2008 and twoSupporters' Shield wins in 2008 and 2009 respectively. 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.
In 2023, Rogers became an executive producer for thePeabody Award-winning miniseries[8]Fellow Travelers.
Robbie Rogers was born inRancho Palos Verdes, California, the son of Theresa and Robert Hampton Rogers II.[9] He has one brother, Timothy, and three sisters, Nicole Camilla, Alicia, and Katie Rose.[9] His mother's family is originally from theColumbus, Ohio area, where Rogers played forColumbus Crew.[9][10] His maternal grandfather is a graduate ofOhio State University and his mother spent her early childhood years inDublin, Ohio, before the family moved toCalifornia.[11]
When growing up, Rogers enjoyedsurfing, and he still surfs.[9] He also enjoys playingtable tennis and has a strong interest in music.[9] Rogers said that his favorite athlete isZlatan Ibrahimović.[9]
Rogers was accepted to study at theLondon College of Fashion and is a co-owner of Halsey, a menswear fashion company.[12] He designs, and models for the company; and blogs about men's fashion atRogers & Becker with friend and stylist Warren Becker.[13]
Rogers started playing soccer at age four-and-a-half at theAmerican Youth Soccer Organization.[11] At the age of seven, Rogers played soccer in the Coast Soccer League, as well as in various Hispanic leagues.[11] He attendedMater Dei High School inSanta Ana, California, where he was a two-time High School All-American in soccer.[11] Rogers made three appearances forOrange County Blue Star of theUSL Premier Development League in 2005, leaving upon deciding to attend university in the fall.[1][14][15] He played one season ofcollege soccer at theUniversity of Maryland, alongside his futureColumbus Crew teammateJason Garey, helping lead the team to the 2005NCAA Championship.[11] During his one season at UMD, he scored seven times and assisted a further five goals.[16][17] He was also named in the ACC All-Conference Freshman team, as well as the Soccer Rookie Team of the Year.[11]
After impressing during his one year of college soccer forMaryland Terrapins, Rogers attracted the interest of DutchEredivisie sideHeerenveen.[16] In the summer of 2006, Heerenveen invited Rogers to the club for a three-week trial, an option that he ultimately took up.[16] The trial period was successful, and he signed a two-year professional contract with the Dutch side in August 2006, his first professional deal.[16] 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".[16] 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 the2006–07 season.[17][18] He left Heerenveen by mutual consent in February 2007.[11][17]
Following his release, Rogers returned to the United States, and was subsequently signed byMLS sideColumbus Crew ahead of the2007 MLS season.[19] Columbus Crew acquired Rogers after they had won a Draft Lottery for the player in March 2007.[19][20] 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 toNew England Revolution.[21] Rogers scored two further times during the 2007 campaign, both of which came in a 3–2 victory overD.C. United atRFK Stadium.[21] He made ten appearances during his first season with Crew, scoring three times and making one assist.[22]
The2008 season would be Rogers' breakthrough season as a professional.[19] He started the campaign playing regularly for Crew, scoring his first goals of the season in a 4–3 home win overCD Chivas USA on April 13, 2008.[23] He went on to score the winning goal in a 2–1 win againstKansas City Wizards on May 4, 2008,[24] before netting twice a week later as Crew defeatedSan Jose Earthquakes 3–2 to take their winning streak to five matches.[25] Following his two goals against Earthquakes, Rogers was awarded theMLS Player of the Week award for week seven.[11] Rogers' sixth goal of the campaign came in a 3–1 home win againstNew York Red Bulls atColumbus Crew Stadium in September 2008.[26] He went on to score a further goal in the2008 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring the club's second in a 2–0 win over Kansas City Wizards; a win that ensured Crew progressed to the Conference final.[27] Rogers played in all four of Crew's MLS Cup Playoff games, including in the final, where they defeated New York Red Bulls 3–1 atThe Home Depot Center in November 2008.[28] The season was successful both individually and collectively for Rogers, as he was named in theMLS Best XI team for the year, as well as picking upSupporters' Shield and MLS Cup silverware.[11] He made 33 appearances during the 2008 campaign, scoring seven times, and assisting three goals.[29]
It took Rogers five months to score his first goal of the2009 season as Crew started the season without a win in seven games;[30] Rogers eventually netted in a 3–0 win over San Jose Earthquakes atBuck Shaw Stadium on August 9, 2009.[31] It was his only goal of the 2009 MLS season, although he did score two goals in twoCONCACAF Champions League matches againstPuerto Rico Islanders andDeportivo Saprissa respectively.[32][33] During the season, Rogers picked up his second Supporters' Shield title after Crew finished first in theoverall standings despite their slow start, finishing a point ahead of second placedLos Angeles Galaxy.[34] The club, however, failed to retain their MLS Cup crown following a Conference semi-final defeat toReal Salt Lake, losing 4–2 on aggregate, with Rogers playing in both games.[35][36] He made 31 appearances in all competitions, and scored three goals.[37]
During thefollowing season, Rogers' fourth at Columbus Crew, he made 34 appearances and scored twice.[38] His first goal of the campaign came in a 3–2 win over New England Revolution in May 2010, with Rogers' goal coming in the 91st minute of the match.[39] He also netted in a 2–1 win overColorado Rapids in the MLS Cup Conference semi-final.[40] Despite Rogers' goal, eventual champions Rapids would go on to win the tie 5–4 on penalties after extra-time.[40] Rogers opened his account for the2011 season in the club's first game of the season, scoring a late consolation penalty as Crew went down 3–1 to D.C. United.[41] A month later, in April 2011, he scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 home victory overSporting Kansas City at Columbus Crew Stadium.[42] It was to be his last goal for the club, in a season where he played 30 times.[43] His last game for the club was in a 1–0 defeat to Colorado Rapids in theMLS Cup wildcard game on October 28, 2011.[44] During his last season with the club, he led the team in assists and was also awarded the 'Crew Hardest Working Player' award.[43][45] In December 2011, it was announced that Rogers was a free agent after he rejected the offer of a contract extension at Columbus Crew.[46][47][48] During his five seasons at Crew, he made 138 appearances and scored 17 times.[49]
After Rogers left Columbus Crew, he joinedLeeds United on an initial two-week trial period in December 2011,[50] before signing on a permanent basis a month later, in January 2012.[51][52] Rogers explained his national team coachJürgen Klinsmann recommended him to then Leeds managerSimon Grayson, who in-turn invited Rogers for a trial atElland Road.[53] His work permit was granted a week after signing for the club.[54] He made his debut on February 18, 2012, coming as a 79th-minute substitute in an eventual 3–2 home win overDoncaster Rovers.[55] However, he had to be substituted just ten minutes into his debut after suffering a severe clash of heads with Doncaster defenderTommy Spurr.[55][56] The head injury ultimately ruled Rogers out of first-team action for several weeks.[57] Rogers returned to the first-team in April 2012, making his first appearance under new managerNeil Warnock[57]—with the player coming on as an 85th-minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat to promotion chasingReading at theMadejski Stadium.[58] He was handed the captain's armband during the match after replacingRobert Snodgrass.[59] A week later, on April 14, Rogers made his first start for the club in a home fixture againstPeterborough United.[57][60] Similarly to his debut, he was substituted after just ten minutes due to sustaining an ankle injury.[60][61] The ankle injury would ultimately rule him out for the remainder of the season.[62][63] Rogers made four appearances during the second half of the2011–12 season, with his first few months at the club blighted by injury.[57]
Ahead of the2012–13 season, manager Neil Warnock stated that he was hopeful Rogers would be able to get a full pre-season under his belt.[64] In June 2012, Rogers returned to the United States to take part in a rehabilitation program, as well as spending two weeks training with theLos Angeles Galaxy squad.[50][65] He returned to Leeds at the beginning of July 2012, and featured in a number of the club's pre-season friendlies; scoring in comprehensive victories overFarsley andTavistock respectively.[66][67] Shortly before the start of the new season, on August 9, manager Neil Warnock revealed that Rogers, along with teammateDanny Pugh, had been placed on the transfer list in order to generate funds for a new striker.[68][69]
Rogers joinedLeague One sideStevenage on August 23, on a loan deal until January 2013.[70][71] Stevenage managerGary Smith, previously manager of MLS sideColorado Rapids, stated that Rogers always impressed him during his time managing in the United States.[72] He made his debut for Stevenage two days after signing, on August 25, coming on as a late substitute in the club's 1–0 away victory againstOldham Athletic.[73] Rogers made nine appearances in all competitions during his five-month loan spell, with his time at the club "hampered by injury".[74] He returned to his parent club on January 15, 2013.[74]
On his return to Leeds, it was announced that Rogers had left the club by mutual consent and was available on a free transfer.[75] He made just four appearances during his time at the club, of which three were as a substitute.[75][76]
Weeks after being released by Leeds United,[77] on February 15, 2013, Rogers announced his retirement from professional soccer at age 25 and announced he was gay,[78] making him the first professional soccer player based in Britain tocome out sinceJustin Fashanu did so in 1990.[79] He announced his retirement and sexuality with a 408-word post on his personal blog, robbiehrogers.com, in which Rogers wrote, "I'm a soccer player, I'm Christian, and I'm gay. Those are things that people might say wouldn't go well together. But my family raised me to be an individual and to stand up for what I believe in."[80]
In a March 2013 interview withThe Guardian, Rogers said he retired to avoid the pressure and scrutiny from the press and fans, which he called "the circus". Rogers said, "Are people coming to see you because you're gay? Would I want to do interviews every day, where people are asking: 'So you're taking showers with guys—how's that?'"[80]
After basketball playerJason Collins came out as gay in April 2013, he sought out Rogers for advice on dealing with the media.[81]
On May 1, 2013, Rogers joinedLos Angeles Galaxy ofMajor League Soccer in training as a "special guest".[82][83] Rogers said he made the decision to return in April 2013, after speaking in front of a crowd of 500 at anLGBTQ youth event inPortland, Oregon, during which he "seriously felt like a coward". Rogers toldUSA TODAY Sports, "These kids are standing up for themselves and changing the world, and I'm 25, I have a platform and a voice to be a role model. How much of a coward was I to not step up to the plate?" He contacted Galaxy coachBruce Arena, who extended him an invitation to train in Los Angeles.[80]
On May 24, 2013, Rogers agreed to terms with the Galaxy, pending the trade of his MLS rights fromChicago Fire SC in exchange forMike Magee.[84] Although the Fire held his MLS rights, Rogers had said in a radio interview that he had no intention of playing for Chicago, as he preferred to be close to his family in Southern California.[85]
On May 26, 2013, Rogers played his first match as a substitute for the Galaxy in a 4–0 win over theSeattle Sounders FC, becoming the first openly gay man to play in a top North American professional sports league (Collins, who had come out earlier in the month, was a free agent at the time of his announcement).[5]
In 2014, Rogers became the first openly gay male athlete to win a major professional team sports title in the United States when the Galaxy were crowned MLS Cup champions.[86]
On June 24, 2015, Rogers scored his first goal for the Galaxy in a 5–0 victory over thePortland Timbers.[87] The goal had special meaning to Rogers as it took place on the Galaxy's 2nd Annual LGBT Pride Night.[88][89]
On November 7, 2017, Rogers retired permanently due to a series of injuries that forced him to miss the entire 2017 season.[90][91][92]
Rogers made eight appearances for theUnited States U18 team, scoring three goals and assisting a further two, though all were in unofficial friendly matches.[93] He then went on to play regularly for theUnited States U20 side from 2004 to 2007. He was part of the side that played in the2006 Milk Cup, as well as representing his country at the2007 FIFA U20 World Cup[93]—playing in all five of his country's games throughout the tournament.[93] He made 15 appearances for the U20 side, scoring three goals.[93]
He was called up to take part in theUnited States U23 team's two-game tour ofChina in 2007; in preparation for the2008 Summer Olympics, held inBeijing.[93] During the tour, he scored one goal and assisted another in a 3–3 draw withChina U23.[93] He was subsequently called up by coachPiotr Nowak to be part of the 18-manU23 Olympic squad, and played in all three games for the U.S. as they departed the tournament in thepreliminary round.[93]
In October 2008, then head coachBob Bradley called Rogers up for the2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier againstTrinidad and Tobago.[94][95][96] However, he had to withdraw from the squad due to a back injury, and was consequently replaced byChris Rolfe.[94] Rogers was then included in a 25-man January camp ahead of a friendly againstSweden on January 24, 2009.[94] He started the match, his first cap forhis country at senior level, playing 69 minutes in a 3–2 win atThe Home Depot Center.[97] He was named in the United States2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad. He started in his country's first match of the tournament, assisting the first two goals before scoring the third in an eventual 4–0 win againstGrenada on July 5, 2009.[98] Rogers made five appearances throughout the tournament,[99][100][101] including a starting appearance in the final, which the U.S. lost toMexico.[102]
After impressing during the Gold Cup, Rogers was called up to play in the United States' final two2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in October 2009.[103] Although he was not named in the squad for the 3–2 win overHonduras on October 11, 2009,[104] he did appear as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 draw withCosta Rica four days later.[105] Rogers came on when the U.S. was losing 2–0, and provided assists for bothMichael Bradley andJonathan Bornstein to tie the game at 2–2.[105][106] Rogers made two further appearances in friendly matches againstSlovakia andDenmark in November 2009,[107][108] taking his senior team appearance tally to nine.[109]
Rogers began 2010 by featuring in two friendlies againstCONCACAF rivals Honduras andEl Salvador, as the U.S. began preparing for the2010 FIFA World Cup.[110][111] In May 2010, Bradley selected Rogers for the 30-man preliminary roster for the World Cup,[112] and he played in a warm-up friendly againstCzech Republic on May 25, 2010, appearing as a second-half substitute.[113] A day later, he was one of seven players that were cut from thefinal squad.[114] He made one further appearance in 2010, starting in a 1–0 win overSouth Africa in a friendly played inCape Town on November 17, 2010.[115]
Rogers was included in the2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup squad,[116][117][118] and started in a warm-up friendly against World championsSpain four days before the start of the tournament, his 14th cap.[119][120] However, he made no appearances during the tournament as the U.S. lost out to Mexico in the final for the second consecutive time.[121] In August 2011, he scored in a 1–1 draw against Mexico in a friendly played at theLincoln Financial Field, inJürgen Klinsmann's first match as U.S. head coach.[122][123] Rogers' goal came with his first touch having just come on as a substitute, prodding inBrek Shea's low cross to restore parity.[124] He went on to make three further appearances for the U.S. in 2011, all of which in friendly matches.[125][126][127] As of December 2014, Rogers has made 18 appearances for his country, scoring two goals.[128]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 4 July 2009 | Lumen Field,Seattle,United States |  Grenada | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 2. | 10 August 2011 | Lincoln Financial Field,Philadelphia, United States |  Mexico | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
ESPN.com writer Jeff Carlisle has noted Rogers's wing play as an asset, particularly "his ability to attack defenders one-on-one", as well as his crossing ability.[129]
In January 2018, it was announced that Rogers was attached as a producer on husbandGreg Berlanti's football drama television pilot.[130] The pilot was ordered to series on May 11, 2018.[131] The series, titledAll American, debuted in the fall of 2018.[132][133] He is also executive producer inShowtime miniseriesFellow Travelers.[134][135]
He makes a cameo appearance in his husband's filmLove, Simon, credited as 'The Coach'.[136][137]
In February 2013, Rogers came out as gay.[12][138] In October 2014, theAmerican Broadcasting Company closed a deal to airMen in Shorts, a single-camera comedy based on Rogers' career and coming out.[139][140] Storyline Entertainment andUniversal Televisionoptioned the rights to his story in July 2014, and he is credited as a producer.[141]
Rogers began dating television writer producerGreg Berlanti in 2013, and on February 18, 2016, they welcomed their first child, a son, viasurrogacy.[142][143] On December 31, 2016, Rogers and Berlanti announced they had become engaged.[144][145] They were married on December 2, 2017, inMalibu, California.[146][147] On May 13, 2019, Rogers and Berlanti had a second child, a daughter.[148][149][150]
Rogers is a devoutRoman Catholic. He stated that "Being Catholic—and people may disagree—but we are called to love everyone. Be honest. Be true in your relationship with God. I’ve always lived that way."[151][152]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Columbus Crew | 2007[22] | MLS | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| 2008[29] | MLS | 27 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 7 | |
| 2009[37] | MLS | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| 2010[38] | MLS | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| 2011[43] | MLS | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 2 | |
| Total | 106 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 140 | 18 | ||
| Leeds United | 2011–12[153] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Stevenage (loan) | 2012–13[154] | League One | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| LA Galaxy | 2013[155] | MLS | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | MLS | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 2015 | MLS | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| 2016 | MLS | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| Total | 78 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 2 | ||
| LA Galaxy II | 2013 | USL Pro | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | USL Pro | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2015 | USL Pro | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2016 | USL Pro | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 184 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 236 | 20 | ||
"Other" constitutes appearances and goals in theSuperLiga andFootball League Trophy.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2009[128] | 9 | 1 |
| 2010[128] | 4 | 0 | |
| 2011[128] | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 18 | 2 | |
Individual
Rogers then became only the second gay footballer in Britain to come out in public.
United States squads | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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