View source for Rob Gier

{{Short description|Association football coach and former player (born 1981)}}
{{use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Filipino name|Dazo|Gier}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Rob Gier
| image          =
| fullname       = Robert James Dazo Gier
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|01|06}}
| birth_place    = [[Ascot, Berkshire|Ascot]], England
| height         = 
| position       = [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|Centre back]]
| currentclub    = [[Philippines national under-23 football team|Philippines U22]] (head coach)
| clubnumber     = 
| youthyears1    = | youthclubs1 = [[Ascot United F.C.|Ascot United]]
| youthyears2    = | youthclubs2 = [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]
| years1         = 2000–2004
| clubs1         = [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]
| caps1          = 71
| goals1         = 0
| years2         = 2004–2006
| clubs2         = [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]]
| caps2          = 67
| goals2         = 2
| years3         = 2006–2007
| clubs3         = [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| caps3          = 17
| goals3         = 0
| years4         = 2007
| clubs4         = [[Woking F.C.|Woking]]
| caps4          = 7
| goals4	 = 0
| years5         = 2007–2008
| clubs5	 = [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]]
| caps5		 = 38
| goals5	 = 0
| years6	 = 2008–2009
| clubs6	 = [[Grays Athletic F.C.|Grays Athletic]]
| caps6		 = 18
| goals6	 = 0
| years7	 = 2009–2016
| clubs7         = [[Ascot United F.C.|Ascot United]]
| caps7		 =
| goals7	 =
| nationalyears1 = 2009–2015
| nationalteam1  = [[Philippines national football team|Philippines]]
<!-- When you update these parameters, please update the ntupdate parameter! -->
| nationalcaps1  = 66
| nationalgoals1 = 2
|manageryears1  = 2016–2018
|managerclubs1  = [[Oxford University Women's Association Football Club|Oxford University Women's]]
|manageryears2  = 2018–2023
|managerclubs2  = [[Reading F.C. Women]] (academy manager)
|manageryears3  = 2023–
|managerclubs3  = [[Philippines national under-23 football team|Philippines U22]]
}}

'''Robert James Dazo Gier''' (born 6 January 1981) is a [[Association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|coach]] and former player who is the head coach of the [[Philippines national under-23 football team|Philippines U22 team]]. As a player, he was mainly a [[Defender (association football)#Centre back|centre-back]].

Born in England, he progressed through the youth system of [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], making his debut in the [[Football League First Division]] in October 2000 and played until [[2003–04 Wimbledon F.C. season|their final season]]. He then played for [[EFL League Two|League Two]] club [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]] until their relegation in 2006. He then played in the [[Conference National]] for [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]], [[Woking F.C.|Woking]], and [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] with whom he won the [[2007–08 Football Conference|2007–08 Conference Premier]] title and [[2007–08 Conference League Cup|Conference League Cup]]. After a brief spell with [[Grays Athletic F.C.|Grays Athletic]], he spent the remainder of his career with his hometown club [[Ascot United F.C.|Ascot United]] in the [[Hellenic Football League]].

Eligible to represent the [[Philippines national football team|Philippines national team]] through his mother, Gier made his international debut in 2009. He [[captain (association football)|captained]] the Philippines in the [[2012 AFF Championship|2012]] and [[2014 AFF Championship]]s.

==Early life==
Rob Gier was born to Robert Gier and Rosario and grew up in [[Ascot, Berkshire|Ascot]], England. Upon coming from work, Rob's father would often bring him to football training. His mother, Rosario is a [[Waray people|Waray]] from [[Tacloban]], [[Leyte]].<ref name=angers>{{cite news|last1=Biantan|first1=Jack|title=What really angers the Azkals captain?|url=http://pinoyfootball.com/articles/11101676/What-really-angers-the-Azkals-captain|accessdate=16 March 2015|publisher=Pinoy Football|date=15 March 2015|location=London|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154753/http://pinoyfootball.com/articles/11101676/What-really-angers-the-Azkals-captain|archivedate=2 April 2015}}</ref>

==Club career==
Gier began his career at [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], who had been relegated from the [[Premier League|Premiership]] in [[1999–2000 in English football|1999–00]] season. He made his debut the following season, starting a 0–0 home draw with [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on 28 October 2000.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

In 2004, he joined [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rushden_and_diamonds/3745683.stm |title=Rushden snap up trio |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2004 |accessdate=3 June 2008 }}</ref> and was part of the side that was relegated from the [[Football League]] in [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]]. He left the club following their relegation, and had spells in the Conference with [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/6274549.stm |title=Cambridge to sign defender Hooper |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2007 |accessdate=3 June 2008 }}</ref> and [[Woking F.C.|Woking]] during the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] season.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

He joined [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]] at the start of the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] season,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/6934485.stm |title=Aldershot boss recruits quartet |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2007 |accessdate=3 June 2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/7375695.stm |title=Aldershot bid farewell to quartet |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2008 |accessdate=22 May 2008 }}</ref>

On 22 May 2008, [[Grays Athletic F.C.|Grays Athletic]] announced they had signed Gier on a one-year contract,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/7415127.stm |title=Grays Athletic add three to squad |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2008 |accessdate=1 June 2008 }}</ref> however, he was [[transfer market#Transfer list|transfer listed]] by the club in January 2009, with financial pressures and manager [[Wayne Burnett]]'s plans being cited as the reason.<ref name="Grays place four on transfer list">{{cite news
| title = Grays place four on transfer list |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/7823934.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2009 |accessdate=12 January 2009 }}</ref>

Gier joined [[Hellenic Football League|Hellenic League Premier Division]] club [[Ascot United F.C.|Ascot United]] in November 2009, after being released at the end of the previous season by Grays Athletic.<ref name="Gier coup for Ascot">{{cite news
| title = Gier coup for Ascot
| url = http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=62458
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120926060544/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=62458
| url-status = usurped
| archive-date = 26 September 2012
| publisher = Non-League Daily
| date = 20 November 2009
| accessdate = 20 November 2009}}</ref> He announced his retirement in February 2016.<ref>[http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html Former Azkals captain Rob Gier retires] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224123220/http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html |date=24 February 2016 }} CNN Philippines, 17 February 2016</ref>

==International career==
Gier was called up to the [[Philippines national football team|Philippines national team]] in March 2009, for the [[2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualification|2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers]] in April, where they were due to face, [[Turkmenistan national football team|Turkmenistan]], [[Bhutan national football team|Bhutan]] and the [[Maldives national football team|Maldives]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azkalsfootballteam.com/team.php?id=135 |title=Robert James Gier Player Profile |publisher=azkalsfootballteam.com |accessdate=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130117110336/http://www.azkalsfootballteam.com/team.php?id=135 |archivedate=17 January 2013 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=angers/>

On 10 September 2012 Gier scored his first international goal for the Philippines in a 2–1 loss to Laos,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.inquirer.net/61744/azkals-yield-to-laotians-in-ill-tempered-friendly |title=Azkals yield to Laotians in ill-tempered 'friendly' |author=Tupas, Cedelf P. |publisher=inquirer.net |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=12 September 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/fifa-azkals-loss-to-laos-invalid |title=FIFA: Azkals loss to Laos invalid |author=Decena, Karl |publisher=interaksyon.com |date=12 September 2012 |accessdate=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913233140/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/fifa-azkals-loss-to-laos-invalid |archivedate=13 September 2012 }}</ref>

He scored his first official international goal for the Philippines in the [[2014 Philippine Peace Cup]] against [[Chinese Taipei national football team|Chinese Taipei]].<ref name="Azkals dominate Chinese Taipei">{{cite web|title=Azkals dominate Chinese Taipei in rain-delayed match to open Peace Cup |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/377658/sports/football/azkals-dominate-chinese-taipei-in-rain-delayed-match-to-open-peace-cup |author=Roy Moore |work=GMA Network |date=3 September 2014 |accessdate=12 November 2014}}</ref>

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 3 September 2014 || [[Rizal Memorial Stadium]], [[Manila]] || {{fb|TPE}} || {{center|1–0}} || {{center|5–1}} || [[2014 Philippine Peace Cup]]<ref name="Azkals dominate Chinese Taipei"/>
|-
| 2. || 25 November 2014 || [[Mỹ Đình National Stadium]], [[Hanoi]] || {{fb|IDN}} || {{center|4–0}} || {{center|4–0}} || [[2014 AFF Championship|2014 AFF Suzuki Cup]]
|}

===Retirement===
On 17 February 2016 Gier announced his retirement from playing competitive football at the age of 35.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Del Rosario|first1=Paolo|title=Former Azkals captain Rob Gier retires|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=CNN Philippines|date=17 February 2016|archive-date=24 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224123220/http://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2016/02/17/Azkals-captain-Rob-Gier-retires.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gier is set to focus on operating Zenith Soccer Tours and spending more time with his family.<ref name=quits>{{cite news|last1=Terrado|first1=Jonas|title=Ex-Azkals skipper quits|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/ex-azkals-skipper-quits/|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=Manila Bulletin|date=17 February 2016}}</ref>

Earlier in 2014,<ref>{{cite news|last1=De Guzman|first1=Icko|title=Rob Gier: Zenith Soccer Tours and What's Next for the Azkals|url=http://football.com.ph/rob-gier-zenith-soccer-tours-and-whats-next-for-the-azkals/|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=Football.com.ph|date=23 March 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Jaelle Nevin|title=Azkals' Gier launches football program in UK|url=http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/football/83193-rob-gier-zenith-soccer-tours|accessdate=17 February 2016|publisher=Rappler|date=7 February 2016}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Oxford University (Women's)===
In November 2016, Gier was appointed as head coach of the [[Oxford University Women's Association Football Club|women's football team]] of the [[University of Oxford]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tupas|first1=Cedelf|title=Gier urges Azkals: Give your all|url=http://sports.inquirer.net/229515/gier-urges-azkals-give-your-all|accessdate=15 November 2016|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=15 November 2016}}</ref> He served in this role until May 2018.

Gier obtained a UEFA A coaching licence by September 2017. While still playing for the national team and Ascot United, he began finishing a two-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.<ref name=ukcoach>{{cite news|last1=Go|first1=Beatrice|title=Rob Gier to focus on UK coaching career after getting UEFA A license|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/football/181834-rob-gier-coaching-career-uefa-license|accessdate=12 September 2017|work=Rappler|date=11 September 2017}}</ref>

===Reading (Women's)===
In 2017, Gier began working with [[Reading F.C. Women]] as its women's development coach.<ref name=ukcoach/> He was eventually promoted as the Reading F.C. Women academy manager in July 2018.<ref name="LinkedIn Profile of Rob Gier">{{cite news
| title = LinkedIn Profile of Rob Gier |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-gier-68682774/?originalSubdomain=uk |publisher=LinkedIn |date=12 July 2018 |accessdate=14 December 2021 }}</ref>

===Philippines U22===
In March 2023, the [[Philippine Football Federation]] announced that Rob Gier was appointed as the new head coach of [[Philippines national under-23 football team|Philippines U22]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Philippines captain Rob Gier named Philippine Men's Under-22 head coach|url=https://pff.org.ph/2023/03/23/former-philippines-captain-rob-gier-named-philippine-mens-under-22-head-coach/|access-date=23 March 2023|website=Philippine Football Federation|date=23 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/23/23/rob-gier-to-coach-azkals-u22-squad-for-sea-games|title=Football: Rob Gier to coach Azkals U22 squad for SEA Games|publisher=ABS-CBN News|date=23 March 2023|accessdate=23 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=del Carmen|first1=Lorenzo|url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/rob-gier-to-lead-azkals-u22-in-32nd-sea-games/267090|title=Rob Gier to lead Azkals U22 in 32nd SEA Games|publisher=Tiebreaker Times|date=23 March 2023|accessdate=23 March 2023}}</ref>

==Honours==

===Club===
;Aldershot Town
*[[Conference National]]: [[Football Conference 2007-08|2007–08]]
*[[Conference League Cup]]: [[2007–08 Conference League Cup|2007–08]]

===International===
;Philippines
*[[AFC Challenge Cup]]: Third [[2012 AFC Challenge Cup|2012]]
*[[Philippine Peace Cup]]: [[2013 Philippine Peace Cup|2013]]

==Personal life==
Gier is married and has two children. His family resides in England.<ref name=quits/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase|name=Robert Gier}}<!--Soccerbase's listed debut for Gier, away at Crewe, doesn't actually have in the 16. Games should be aligned with figures-->
*{{NFT player|pid=30957}}
*{{FIFA player|345355}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gier, Robert}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English people of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:Filipino people of English descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Ascot, Berkshire]]
[[Category:British people of Filipino descent]]
[[Category:British Asian footballers]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Filipino men's footballers]]
[[Category:Filipino expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Philippines men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:National League (English football) players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Aldershot Town F.C. players]]
[[Category:Cambridge United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Grays Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wimbledon F.C. players]]
[[Category:Woking F.C. players]]
[[Category:Ascot United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Filipino football managers]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Filipino sportsmen]]