Rob Gier

Robert James Dazo "Rob" Gier (born 6 January 1981) is a retired Filipino footballer who played mainly as a centre back for various clubs in the United Kingdom and the Philippines national team where he was also the captain.

Rob Gier
Personal information
Full name Robert James Dazo Gier
Date of birth (1981-01-06) 6 January 1981
Place of birth Ascot, England
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Ascot United
Wimbledon
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Wimbledon 71 (0)
2004–2006 Rushden & Diamonds 67 (2)
2006–2007 Cambridge United 17 (0)
2007 Woking 7 (0)
2007–2008 Aldershot Town 38 (0)
2008–2009 Grays Athletic 18 (0)
2009–2016 Ascot United
National team‡
2009–2015 Philippines 66 (2)
Teams managed
2016– Oxford University (women's)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 January 2012
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:17, 8 December 2014 (UTC)

Early life

Rob Gier was born to Robert Gier and Rosario and grew up in Ascot, England. Upon coming from work, Rob's father would often bring him to football training. His mother, Rosario is a Waray from Tacloban, Leyte.[1]

Club career

Gier began his career at Wimbledon, who had been relegated from the Premiership in 1999–00 season. He made his debut the following season, starting a 0–0 home draw with Sheffield United on 28 October 2000.

In 2004, he joined Rushden & Diamonds,[2] and was part of the side that was relegated from the Football League in 2005–06. He left the club following their relegation, and had spells in the Conference with Cambridge United,[3] and Woking during the 2006–07 season.

He joined Aldershot Town at the start of the 2007–08 season,[4] and was part of the side that won the Conference with a record points total. He made 38 league appearances for the club, all starts, but despite this was released at the end of the campaign.[5]

On 22 May 2008, Grays Athletic announced they had signed Gier on a one-year contract,[6] however, he was transfer listed by the club in January 2009, with financial pressures and manager Wayne Burnett's plans being cited as the reason.[7]

Gier joined Hellenic League Premier Division club Ascot United in November 2009, after being released at the end of the previous season by Grays Athletic.[8] He announced his retirement in February 2016.[9]

International career

Gier was called up to the Philippines national team in March 2009, for the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in April, where they were due to face, Turkmenistan, Bhutan and the Maldives.[10] He made his international debut in 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification match against Bhutan on 14 April 2009 and also played against Maldives and Turkmenistan.[1]

On 10 September 2012 Gier scored his first international goal for the Philippines in a 2–1 loss to Laos,[11] however it was not a FIFA-sanctioned match. FIFA did not recognize the match's results after it was found out that the referees who officiated the match were not recognized by the world sporting body.[12]

He scored his first official international goal for the Philippines in the 2014 Philippine Peace Cup against Chinese Taipei.[13]

International goals
Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.3 September 2014Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila Chinese Taipei
1–0
5–1
2014 Philippine Peace Cup[13]
2.25 November 2014Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi Indonesia
4–0
4–0
2014 AFF Suzuki Cup

Retirement

On 17 February 2016 Gier announced his retirement from playing competitive football at the age of 35.[14] Gier is set to focus on operating Zenith Soccer Tours and spending more time with his family.[15]

Earlier in 2014,[16] Gier established Zenith Soccer Tours, a youth football program in the United Kingdom. The idea was concepted by Gier, after he met with the Philippine national youth team who had a three-week training camp in the UK in 2013.[17]

Coaching career

In November 2016, Gier was appointed as head coach of the women's football team of the Oxford University.[18]

Gier obtained a UEFA A coaching licence by September 2017. While still playing for the national team and Ascot United, he began finishing a 2-year course to obtain the UEFA A coaching licence. He plans to coach in the United Kingdom while working for a UEFA Pro Licence that would make him eligible to coach in the FA Premier League and UEFA competitions. He has expressed his openness to coach for the Philippine national team.[19]

Aside from coaching at Oxford, Gier also works with Reading as its development coach and a consultant for a private school in Oxfordshire.[19]

Honours

Club
Aldershot Town

International
Philippines

Personal life

Gier is married and has two children. His family resides in England.[15]

References
  1. Biantan, Jack (15 March 2015). "What really angers the Azkals captain?". London: Pinoy Football. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  2. "Rushden snap up trio". BBC Sport. 24 May 2004. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  3. "Cambridge to sign defender Hooper". BBC Sport. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  4. "Aldershot boss recruits quartet". BBC Sport. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  5. "Aldershot bid farewell to quartet". BBC Sport. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
  6. "Grays Athletic add three to squad". BBC Sport. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008.
  7. "Grays place four on transfer list". BBC Sport. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  8. "Gier coup for Ascot". Non-League Daily. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  9. Former Azkals captain Rob Gier retires CNN Philippines, 17 February 2016
  10. "Robert James Gier Player Profile". azkalsfootballteam.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  11. Tupas, Cedelf P. (12 September 2012). "Azkals yield to Laotians in ill-tempered 'friendly'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. inquirer.net. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  12. Decena, Karl (12 September 2012). "FIFA: Azkals loss to Laos invalid". interaksyon.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  13. Roy Moore (3 September 2014). "Azkals dominate Chinese Taipei in rain-delayed match to open Peace Cup". GMA Network. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  14. Del Rosario, Paolo (17 February 2016). "Former Azkals captain Rob Gier retires". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  15. Terrado, Jonas (17 February 2016). "Ex-Azkals skipper quits". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  16. De Guzman, Icko (23 March 2015). "Rob Gier: Zenith Soccer Tours and What's Next for the Azkals". Football.com.ph. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  17. Reyes, Jaelle Nevin (7 February 2016). "Azkals' Gier launches football program in UK". Rappler. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  18. Tupas, Cedelf (15 November 2016). "Gier urges Azkals: Give your all". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  19. Go, Beatrice (11 September 2017). "Rob Gier to focus on UK coaching career after getting UEFA A license". Rappler. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
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