Rob Friend
Friend after Borussia Mönchengladbach training, October 2007
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Douglas Friend | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2000 | Western Michigan Broncos | 40 | (9) |
| 2001–2002 | UC Santa Barbara Gauchos | 40 | (31) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1998 | Okanagan Challenge | ||
| 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) | |
| National team | |||
| 2001 | Canada U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2004 | Canada U23 | 11 | (12) |
| 2003–2011 | Canada | 32 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Robert Douglas "Rob" Friend (born 23 January 1981) is a Canadian former professional and international soccer player.
Friend was born 23 January 1981 in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Canada. Growing up in Kelowna, British Columbia, he was the first Kelowna-based player to make the British Columbia Provincial team, a collection of top youth players, and was named captain for the 1997 team. Friend was exposed to senior level play early, appearing for Okanagan Challenge of the Premier Development Soccer League as well as appearing in an exhibition for the Vancouver 86ers of the A-League.
Despite training with English club Crewe Alexandra F.C., Friend decided to attend Western Michigan University. He played college soccer for the Western Michigan Broncos from 1999 to 2000, having appeared in 40 games and scoring 9 goals.
Friend transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara and finished his collegiate career with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer team. As a senior, Friend scored in 12 consecutive matches which ranks fifth in NCAA Division I history. He appeared in 40 games for the Gauchos, scoring 31 goals and assisting on 9 more. He was named as a 2002 All-American, becoming the first Gaucho in 32 years to receive the honor.
After graduation from UCSB, Friend went on trial with Moss FK in December 2002. After a positive showing, he signed a two-year deal in December 2002 for Moss FK's upcoming 2003 Norwegian First Division season. Despite his contract with Moss FK, Friend was drafted in the 4th Round (35th Overall) of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by Chicago Fire making him the first player from UCSB drafted to MLS.
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