Rob Friend

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Rob Friend
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Personal information
Full name Robert Douglas Friend
Date of birth (1981-01-23) 23 January 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1999–2000 Western Michigan Broncos
2001–2002 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Moss FK 41 (16)
2004–2006 Molde FK 40 (14)
2006–2007 SC Heerenveen 19 (5)
2007 Heracles Almelo (loan) 12 (3)
2007–2010 Borussia Mönchengladbach 83 (28)
2010–2011 Hertha BSC 25 (5)
2011–2014 Eintracht Frankfurt 13 (1)
2012 Eintracht Frankfurt II 1 (2)
2013–2014 TSV 1860 München (loan) 22 (5)
2014 LA Galaxy 10 (0)
Total 266 (79)
International career
2000–2001 Canada U20 2 (0)
2002–2004 Canada U23 11 (12)
2003–2011 Canada 32 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:39, 28 August 2014 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:39, 28 August 2014 (UTC)

Rob Friend (born 23 January 1981) is a Canadian former soccer player.

Club career

Early years

As a teenager Friend tried many sports at a high level including volleyball, tennis, hockey, and rugby. At 17, Friend decided to concentrate on soccer. He sometimes wishes he had concentrated on soccer earlier on and sees his development as still ongoing. "Others reach a certain level at an early age, but for me I am still developing today", he says. "Therefore I'll often work on things after practice. Things that I missed out on as a youth, to help me improve. Since I decided on soccer, I become better and better and always work harder to improve myself further".[citation needed]

Friend played college soccer at UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. As a senior on the Santa Barbara Gauchos team, Friend scored in 12 consecutive matches which ranks fourth in NCAA history.[1]

Norway

After he graduated, Friend was drafted in the 4th Round, 35th Overall, of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire.[2] But instead of playing for Chicago Fire, he decided to play in Norway. Together with fellow countryman Patrice Bernier, he was signed by Moss. In the middle of 2004, he was signed by Molde, with which he became cup champion in 2005.[3]

The Netherlands

Before the expiration of his contract with Molde, and after he helped Molde win the Norwegian Cup, he was transferred to Heerenveen on a four-year contract. After making 19 appearances with Heerenveen and scoring five goals, he was loaned to Heracles Almelo to conclude the 2006–07 season. On 3 February 2007, Friend played his first Eredivisie match for Heracles against Willem II. He helped the team retain their status in the Eredivisie by scoring three goals in 12 games. Despite his contributions, Heerenveen deemed him surplus to requirements and transferred him on to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Germany

During the 2007–08 season Friend scored 18 goals in 33 matches, making him Borussia Mönchengladbach's top scorer and the second top scorer in Bundesliga 2. His team finished first, and were promoted to the Bundesliga.

On 17 August 2008, Friend scored in his very first game in the Bundesliga, against VfB Stuttgart. After three years in Mönchengladbach, including two in the Bundesliga, Friend was sold from the club and was bought by the newly relegated Hertha BSC for €1.8 million.[4]

File:Friend, Rob 1860 12-13 WP.JPG
Friend with TSV 1860 München

Friend made his debut and scored his first goal for Berlin on 14 August 2010 in a DFB-Pokal cup match versus Pfullendorf, the game ended as a 2–0 victory. Six days later he made his league debut for the team in a 3–2 victory over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. On 12 September, Friend had a man of the match performance scoring 2 goals in a 3–1 home victory over Arminia Bielefeld at Olympic Stadium.[5] Friend finished his first season with Hertha having scored 6 goals in 27 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. He helped Hertha win the 2. Bundesliga gaining automatic promotion back to top flight football.[6] On the final day of the 2011 summer transfer window, Friend returned to the second division, joining the newly relegated Eintracht Frankfurt.

United States

On 13 January 2014, Friend made the move to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy.[7] After one season with Los Angeles, which included winning the 2014 MLS Cup, Friend announced his retirement on 10 December 2014.[8]

International career

File:Robfriendperu.jpg
Friend playing against Peru at BMO Field on September 4, 2010

Friend has represented Canada at the U-20, U-23, and senior levels. He saw action in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship, as well as the 2004 CONCACAF Men Pre-Olympic Tournament.

Friend made his debut with the senior international team on 18 January 2003 in a friendly with the United States. Since then, and as of February 2013, he has been capped 32 times by his country, scoring twice. He has represented Canada in five FIFA World Cup qualification matches.[9]

Career statistics

Club

As of 20 October 2013.[10][11][12][13][14][15]
Club performance League Cup Other Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Norway League Norwegian Cup Europe Total
2003 Moss First Division 25 8 3 2 28 10
2004 16 8 3 0 19 8
2004 Molde Tippeligaen 6 2 0 0 6 2
2005 25 10 6 3 31 13
2006 9 2 0 0 0 0 9 2
Netherlands League KNVB Cup League playoffs Europe Total
2006–07 Heerenveen Eredivisie 19 5 1 0 0 0 6 0 26 5
Heracles 12 3 0 0 12 3
Germany League DFB-Pokal DFB-Ligapokal Europe Total
2007–08 Borussia Mönchengladbach 2. Bundesliga 33 18 1 0 34 18
2008–09 Bundesliga 24 7 1 0 25 7
2009–10 26 3 0 0 26 3
2010–11 Hertha BSC 2. Bundesliga 25 5 2 1 27 6
2011–12 Eintracht Frankfurt 13 1 1 0 14 1
2012–13 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012–13 1860 München 2. Bundesliga 14 4 0 0 14 4
2013–14 10 1 2 0 12 1
Career totals Norway 81 30 12 5 0 0 93 35
Netherlands 31 8 1 0 0 0 6 0 38 8
Germany 138 37 7 1 145 38
Career statistics 250 75 20 6 0 0 6 0 276 81

International

As of 3 February 2013.[11][16]
Canada National Team
Year Apps Goals
2003 3 0
2004 1 0
2005 0 0
2006 5 1
2007 5 0
2008 8 1
2009 2 0
2010 3 0
2011 5 0
Total 30 2

International goals

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.[11][16]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 4 September 2006 Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard, Montreal, Canada  Jamaica 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 31 May 2008 Qwest Field, Seattle, United States  Brazil 1–1 2–3 Friendly

References

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  7. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/01/13/la-galaxy-sign-longtime-european-pro-and-canadian-international-striker-rob-
  8. http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2014/12/forward-rob-friend-retires-professional-soccer
  9. Rob FriendFIFA competition record
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External links

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