Robin Fraser
Encyclopedia
Robin Fraser is a retired Jamaica
n-born American
soccer player. He is currently head coach of Chivas USA in Major League Soccer
.
Fraser played six seasons in the American Professional Soccer League
and ten in Major League Soccer
. He earned 27 caps with the United States men's national soccer team
between 1988 and 2001.
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 a 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, and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy
as a senior.
. 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. Although his career was considered to be on the downslide during his time with the Rapids, he anchored the Crew defense in 2004, and was once again considered one of the best at 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.
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 July 6, 2001.
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.
As a player
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player. He is currently head coach of Chivas USA in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Fraser played six seasons in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
and ten in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He earned 27 caps with the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
between 1988 and 2001.
Youth
Fraser grew up in Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
where he played soccer at Miami Palmetto High School
Miami Palmetto High School
Miami Palmetto Senior High School is a secondary school located at 7460 S.W. 118th Street in Pinecrest, Florida, USA, a Miami suburb; its principal is Allison Harley. The school is on 23 acres in southwest Miami-Dade County, Florida, and is part of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools district....
. He played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
from 1984 to 1988, leading the team to a 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, and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as a senior.
Professional
In 1988, Fraser signed with the Miami Sharks in the American Soccer LeagueAmerican Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He played two seasons with the Sharks. In 1990, he moved to the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American 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
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
was created, he was the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
's first selection (fourth overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. Fraser played five seasons with Galaxy, and was named to the league's Best XI
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
four times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000), and was named MLS Defender of the Year
MLS Defender of the Year Award
In the United States, Major League Soccer has handed out a Defender of the Year award since its inception in 1996. Here is a list of the past winners:Past winners:...
in 1999.
Fraser was traded to the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
in a salary-cap related move before the 2001 season. He spent three years in Colorado, before being traded to the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
for two draft picks. Although his career was considered to be on the downslide during his time with the Rapids, he anchored the Crew defense in 2004, and was once again considered one of the best at 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
MLS Supporters' Shield
The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
. During the 2003 and 2004 season, Fraser helped mentor two of MLS's most promising young defenders, Nat Borchers
Nat Borchers
Nat Borchers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
and Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall
Chad Marshall is an American soccer player who currently captains the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
. 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.
International
Although Fraser was born in Jamaica, he chose to represent the United StatesUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
at the international level, after becoming a citizen in June 1986. He made his debut against Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
on June 1, 1988 and amassed 27 caps. His last came in a scoreless tie with Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
on July 6, 2001.
Coaching
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
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
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.
Achievements
As an assistant coach- MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
- Winners (1): 2009MLS Cup 2009The 2009 MLS Cup was the championship match of the 2009 Major League Soccer season, the 14th season of the league. The final was played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington on November 22, 2009. The match was contested by Eastern Conference champion Real Salt Lake and Western Conference champion...
- Winners (1): 2009
- MLS Supporters' ShieldMLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
- Runners-up (1): 2010
- MLS Eastern Conference
- Winners (Playoff) (1): 2009
As a player
- MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
- Runner-up (2): 1996, 1999
- MLS Supporters' ShieldMLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
- Winner (2): 1998, 2004
- Runner-up (2): 1996, 1999
- MLS Eastern Conference
- Winners (Regular Season) (1): 2004
- MLS Western Conference
- Winners (Regular Season) (3): 1996, 1998, 1999
- Winners (Playoffs) (2): 1996, 1999
- CONCACAF Champions' CupCONCACAF Champions LeagueThe CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
- Winners (1): 2000
- Runner-up (1): 1997