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Davis' Discussions: The Veteran Youngster Robbie Rogers
The 22-year-old is becoming a national team veteran already.
Jan 15, 2010 11:53:00 PM
By Noah Davis
At the tender age of 22, Robbie Rogers is already something of a veteran.
When speedy wide midfielder was barely old enough to vote, he left Maryland to sign with Dutch side Heerenveen. Although he enjoyed the experience and credits the club for helping him "blossom" as a player, he never made an appearance on the first team and returned stateside in 2007. The Columbus Crew won a draft lottery for Rogers and he's played 59 games for the Major League Soccer team in three seasons.
In 2009, the five-foot, 10-inch California native made his presence known on the National Team level. He received a call-up to the American training camp in January and earned nine caps over the year, netting a goal and three assists. One of those helpers came as the Red, White, and Blue stormed back to tie Costa Rica on the last day of World Cup qualifying. Rogers, who subbed on 21 minutes from time and played on the right wing, served dangerous cross after cross and demonstrated how valuable he can be to a U.S. squad that relies on good service to score. (The American's other goal on the night came after another whipped ball from the Crew midfielder resulted in a scramble in the box.)
Twelve month after participating in his first U.S. camp, the Mater Dei High School alum finds himself back again, this time assisting a new, inexperienced crop of players.
"I'm still one of the younger guys here so I still definitely have a lot to learn, but guys can come to me when they have questions," Rogers told Goal.com over the phone from his hotel room on Friday afternoon. "Guys ask questions that aren't that important. Little things like, 'What can we wear?,' 'Where can we go when we have time off?', and certain things that they don't want to cause any conflicts."
It's a new role for a member of MLS's 2008 Best XI, but one he's enjoying as it allows him to focus on soccer.
"Last year it was my first camp and I didn't know what to expect," Rogers said. "This year, I can prepare myself a little better and I can be more comfortable and be myself from the beginning of camp to the end."
While a slight knee injury kept him out of training early in the week, he returned Thursday afternoon and enjoyed playing with, instead of against, some of the best footballers the domestic league has to offer.
"When you train with them every day, you really see how good they are and how much talent they have," he said. "As a whole, it's a really good, strong group and promising for the future."
Prospects look bright for Rogers as well. Success seems to follow him. The Terps won the NCAA Championship in his only year as a collegian and the Crew earned the Supporters Shield in each of their last two campaigns, doubling up in 2008 by winning the MLS Cup. Although his play in 2009 suffered from inconsistency -- a combination of an early season injury and shuttling between club and country -- Rogers anticipates he'll continue his solid run of late-season form, all in hopes of making the USA's World Cup roster.
There's also the matter of fulfilling another dream and returning to Europe. Reports earlier this month linked Rogers to FC Twente and while the club scouted the midfielder, he didn't fit into their plans. The 22-year-old admitted that other clubs in Europe have contacted his agent, but no deal has come.
"I guess I'm just waiting for someone to have enough interest where they buy me -- of course I'm interested in going overseas -- but if it doesn't happen, I'm focused on wherever I am in MLS, Columbus or wherever," Rogers said. "I think this would be a great time for me to go now. I think if I really want to move to the next level and keep progressing, I think I need to make a move in the next year."
A transfer in the next 12 months wouldn't be surprising. After all, he's already a veteran of European soccer.
Noah Davis covers the United States Men's National Team for Goal.com.
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
When speedy wide midfielder was barely old enough to vote, he left Maryland to sign with Dutch side Heerenveen. Although he enjoyed the experience and credits the club for helping him "blossom" as a player, he never made an appearance on the first team and returned stateside in 2007. The Columbus Crew won a draft lottery for Rogers and he's played 59 games for the Major League Soccer team in three seasons.
In 2009, the five-foot, 10-inch California native made his presence known on the National Team level. He received a call-up to the American training camp in January and earned nine caps over the year, netting a goal and three assists. One of those helpers came as the Red, White, and Blue stormed back to tie Costa Rica on the last day of World Cup qualifying. Rogers, who subbed on 21 minutes from time and played on the right wing, served dangerous cross after cross and demonstrated how valuable he can be to a U.S. squad that relies on good service to score. (The American's other goal on the night came after another whipped ball from the Crew midfielder resulted in a scramble in the box.)
Twelve month after participating in his first U.S. camp, the Mater Dei High School alum finds himself back again, this time assisting a new, inexperienced crop of players.
"I'm still one of the younger guys here so I still definitely have a lot to learn, but guys can come to me when they have questions," Rogers told Goal.com over the phone from his hotel room on Friday afternoon. "Guys ask questions that aren't that important. Little things like, 'What can we wear?,' 'Where can we go when we have time off?', and certain things that they don't want to cause any conflicts."
It's a new role for a member of MLS's 2008 Best XI, but one he's enjoying as it allows him to focus on soccer.
"Last year it was my first camp and I didn't know what to expect," Rogers said. "This year, I can prepare myself a little better and I can be more comfortable and be myself from the beginning of camp to the end."
While a slight knee injury kept him out of training early in the week, he returned Thursday afternoon and enjoyed playing with, instead of against, some of the best footballers the domestic league has to offer.
"When you train with them every day, you really see how good they are and how much talent they have," he said. "As a whole, it's a really good, strong group and promising for the future."
Prospects look bright for Rogers as well. Success seems to follow him. The Terps won the NCAA Championship in his only year as a collegian and the Crew earned the Supporters Shield in each of their last two campaigns, doubling up in 2008 by winning the MLS Cup. Although his play in 2009 suffered from inconsistency -- a combination of an early season injury and shuttling between club and country -- Rogers anticipates he'll continue his solid run of late-season form, all in hopes of making the USA's World Cup roster.
There's also the matter of fulfilling another dream and returning to Europe. Reports earlier this month linked Rogers to FC Twente and while the club scouted the midfielder, he didn't fit into their plans. The 22-year-old admitted that other clubs in Europe have contacted his agent, but no deal has come.
"I guess I'm just waiting for someone to have enough interest where they buy me -- of course I'm interested in going overseas -- but if it doesn't happen, I'm focused on wherever I am in MLS, Columbus or wherever," Rogers said. "I think this would be a great time for me to go now. I think if I really want to move to the next level and keep progressing, I think I need to make a move in the next year."
A transfer in the next 12 months wouldn't be surprising. After all, he's already a veteran of European soccer.
Noah Davis covers the United States Men's National Team for Goal.com.
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
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