Real Salt Lake brought Robbie Findley back for a second stint in Utah on Jan. 16, 2013, sending the Portland Timbers allocation money for the rights to the speedy striker, who had already signed with MLS at the time of the trade. Findley previously played for RSL from mid-2007 through 2010, when he left the Claret-and-Cobalt after the MLS season to join English Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Findley made 25 league appearances for Real Salt Lake in 2013 – 17 of which were starts. Though slightly hobbled by injuries, Findley still made a large impact for RSL, finishing third on the team with six goals while also registering two assists. The Arizona native won MLS Goal of the Week for his stunning right-footed blast from the side of the box against the San Jose Earthquakes on June 1.
Findley came up big in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s playoff run, playing in all five 2013 postseason games – four of which were starts – and notching two goals and one assist to help the Claret-and-Cobalt reach the 2013 MLS Cup Final. Findley is Real Salt Lake’s all-time leading scorer in the postseason.
Acquired
RSL: Rights acquired via trade with Portland Timbers on Jan. 16, 2013 in exchange for allocation money.
Nottingham Forest (English 2nd Division): Signed as a free agent with Nottingham Forest on Dec. 23, 2010
RSL: Acquired – along with Nathan Sturgis – in a trade with LA in exchange for Chris Klein on June 21, 2007
LA: Selected with the 16th overall pick of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 12, 2007
Professional Career
2013: Made 25 league appearances, 17 of which were starts … Scored six goals and added two assists in the regular season … Finished the regular season as RSL’s third-highest goal scorer ... Won MLS Goal of the Week for his stunning right-footed blast from the side of the box against the San Jose Earthquakes on June 1 … Scored his first goal of the season in RSL’s 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC on March 30 … Scored in a 4-1 rout of Chivas USA on May 19 … Notched a goal and an assist in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 3-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes on June 1 … Provided an assist on RSL’s first goal in a 3-1 win over LA Galaxy on June 8 … Scored in a 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC on June 22 … Notched RSL’s only goal in a 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City on July 20 … Scored a late goal in a 4-2 loss to LA Galaxy on Aug. 17 … Played in all five 2013 postseason games – four of which were starts – and notched two goals and one assist in the postseason … Remained Real Salt Lake’s all-time leading scorer in the playoffs … Scored RSL’s second goal in the club’s 4-2 win over Portland Timbers in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship series … Scored the only goal in RSL’s 1-0 win over Portland Timbers in the second leg of the Western Conference Championship
2012-13: After struggling to find playing time with Nottingham Forest at the start of the 2012-13 Championship campaign, Findley was loaned to English League Two side Gillingham in September 2012 … He made seven appearances for Gillingham before returning to Forest … Nottingham Forest announce on Jan. 14, 2013 that the club and Findley had terminated the player’s contract by mutual consent.
2011-12: Made 27 appearances across all competitions for Nottingham Forest, finishing the season third on the team with seven goals and no assists … Unfortunately for Findley, Forest struggled in the campaign, finishing the season 19th of 24 teams in the English Championship.
2010-11:Nottingham Forest (English Championship): Signed as a free agent with English Championship club Nottingham Forest on Dec. 23, 2010 … Joined Nottingham on Jan. 15, 2011 after his work permit was approved at a hearing in London … Suffered a thigh injury that kept him out for 12 weeks in early-February 2011, keeping him out of action for 12 weeks … Finished the Nottingham Forest season with just two appearances and zero goals.
2010-11: Signed as a free agent with English Championship club Nottingham Forest on Dec. 23, 2010 … Joined Nottingham on Jan. 15, 2011 after his work permit was approved at a hearing in London … Suffered a thigh injury that kept him out for 12 weeks in early-February 2011, keeping him out of action for 12 weeks … Finished the Nottingham Forest season with just two appearances and zero goals.
2010: Appeared in 24 of RSL’s 30 regular season games, starting 15 of them … Scored five goals and added four assists for the Claret-and-Cobalt, finishing the year fourth on the team in both categories … Was away from RSL for two months while with the U.S. national team in the build-up to and during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa … Made three appearances for Bob Bradley’s team in South Africa, finishing the tournament without a goal or an assist … Announced after the season that he’d leave MLS to pursue opportunities in Europe … Despite that announcement, he was selected by Portland in the MLS Expansion Draft in November 2010.
2009: Saw action in 27 of RSL’s 30 games, starting 18 matches … Led the Claret-and-Cobalt with 12 goals in MLS play, beating second-leading scorer Yura Movsisyan by four goals … Scored the second-half equalizer in MLS Cup in Seattle, forcing extra time and ultimately allowing RSL to beat the LA Galaxy in a penalty kick shootout to take home the Claret-and-Cobalt’s biggest trophy to date.
2008: Appeared in 29 of RSL’s 30 regular season affairs, starting 15 of them … Scored six RSL goals for the second consecutive year, finishing T-2nd (w/Morales) on the squad in the category and moving him up to 3rd on the club’s career scoring chart (12 G; behind only Cunningham (19) and Kreis (17)) … His four scores off the substitutes’ bench were the most in MLS in ’08 … After going without an assist in ’07, finished 2nd on RSL in 2008with five helpers … Had two games in 2008 with 1G &1A (4/12 v. DC & 5/31 v. SJ) … Helper on 4/12 v. DC (Beckerman – 78’) marked his first career MLS assists … Started and played all 90 minutes on 4/30 v. SJ in helping RSL to a 4-0 USOC play-in win … Won MLS Player of the Week and Sierra Mist Goal of the Week for his Week 10 performance v. SJ on 5/31, when he registered a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win … Started and played 45 minutes in RSL’s 1-2 international friendly loss on 7/23 v. Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) … Selected in July as an alternate for the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team for the Beijing Olympics .. Registered first career multi-assist game in 3-4 loss at Houston on 8/16 with helpers in 3’ (Movsisyan) and 80’ (Deuchar) goals … Registered one assist in 72 minutes off the bench across all three of RSL’s 2008 MLS Cup Playoff contests … Assist on 11/08 @CHV in Game Two of their Western Conference Semifinal series not only marked his first career playoff point, but also proved to clinch RSL’s passage to the Western Conference Final as the series-clinching helper.
2007: Scored 8G in 25 games (14 starts) in his rookie season for LA & RSL … Despite playing only 16 games, led RSL in scoring with six goals, making him the first rookie in club history to capture the team’s Golden Boot award … His eight goals combined on the season was tops among MLS rookies and placed him T-9th overall in the league … His three GWG also led the squad and placed T-7th in MLS … Was selected by LA in the second round (16th overall) of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft on 1/12/07 … Made his MLS debut for LA on 4/8 @HOU in the 60’, replacing Cobi Jones … Scored first MLS goal four days later on 4/12 v. DAL on a 86’ header … Made first MLS start on 4/28 v. CH and played 61 minutes in his first SuperClasico contest … Acquired by RSL on 6/21/07 via trade with Los Angeles Galaxy along with D/M Nathan Sturgis in return for MF Chris Klein … Became 11th player in MLS history to score multiple goals in his debut with a club with his 2G effort on 6/23 v. DC in RSL’s 2-1 upset win … Started eight straight MLs contests for RSL after joining the squad …. Scored an insurance tally on 7/21 v. Everton FC, with his goal capping the scoring in RSL’s 2-0 friendly victory … His 87th minute tally in the season finale on 10/20 @COL gave RSL a 1-0 win that clinched the team’s first Rocky Mountain Cup series victory and kept the Rapids from qualifying for the postseason.
International
U.S. National Teams: Has 11 senior caps for the U.S. national team, including three at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa … Selected in July 2008 as one of four alternates for the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team for the Beijing Olympics … Helped the U.S. U-23 team qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics by appearing in all five contests for the USA during the CONCACAF Region Olympic Qualifying Tournament in March ’08 … Earned first cap with the full U.S. Men’s National Team on 10/17/07, entering the USA’s 1-0 win at Switzerland as a 90th minute substitute.
College
Finished his four-year collegiate career with Oregon State as the school’s third all-time leading scorer with 28 goals … Was first player in OSU history to be named First Team All-Pac 10 three times … Was named to the NSCAA All Far-West team three times
High School/Club
Graduated from Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Ariz. in 2003 … A two-time All-Arizona first team member … Two-time Northeast Valley Player of the Year … Holds Shadow Mountain’s single-season goal record with 27 … Played his youth club soccer for Sereno Golden Eagles out of Phoenix … Was a club teammate of former RSL defender Brandon McDonald
Personal
Son of Vanessa and Rawle Findley … Family includes sister Natasha and brother Alex … Part of an athletic family tree that includes cousins Mike Bibby, a former NBA point guard; Shaun McDonald, a former NFL wide receiver; and Eddie House, a former NBA point guard.
