Rogers to make history with Galaxy
The next time Robbie Rogers takes the field, he will become the first openly gay male athlete to play in a major U.S. professional sport. That opportunity could come as early as Sunday night when the Galaxy hosts the Seattle Sounders.
“As an athlete when you step on the field, you step on the field and don’t think about other stuff,” Rogers said at his introductory news conference Saturday. “So I think it will be quite natural and normal. But after, when I have time to take everything in, then I will say this has been quite a journey for me.”
The Galaxy signed Rogers to a multiyear contract after acquiring him from the Chicago Fire in exchange for leading scorer and fan favorite Mike Magee, who wanted to return home to Chicago for personal reasons. Terms of Rogers’ contract were not released.
Rogers, 26, last played professionally in 2012, when he joined English League One side Stevenage while on loan from Leeds United.
After cutting ties with Leeds United, Rogers retired from soccer in February, when he revealed in a lengthy blog post that he is gay. Rogers has been training with the Galaxy since April after receiving an invitation from Coach Bruce Arena.
“For 25 years, I’ve been afraid to share a secret with everyone,” Rogers said Saturday. “And I finally did that I kept my secret because I thought I couldn’t be both a soccer player and a gay athlete.
“I was afraid to be back in an environment that affected me in the past. After I finally got in here, everything was completely normal.”
Rogers has played in 18 games for the U.S. national team, the most recent in a November 2011 friendly against Slovenia. He last scored in an August 2011 match against Mexico that was U.S. Coach Juergen Klinsmann’s national team debut. Rogers said he ultimately hopes to play for the U.S. in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but has not heard from Klinsmann.
“I would love to. I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” Rogers said.
“But the MLS definitely is ready and the United States is ready for gay athletes in other sports.”
Magee had been dubbed Mr. November by fans and teammates for his performance in the MLS playoffs -- eight goals in 17 playoff games with the Galaxy. The 28-year-old forward played a critical role in the Galaxy’s MLS championships in 2011 and 2012, scoring six goals in his last 10 playoff games.
Arena said the trade for Rogers was nothing more than a step to improve the Galaxy.
“We are in this business to win games,” he said. “If I thought that this would not enable us to continue along that path, we would not have made this trade.”
Rogers will wear No. 14 and will not serve as the team’s third designated player next to Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan, leaving room for the Galaxy to make a big splash in the summer transfer market.
Rogers said the decision to return to soccer was easier than he anticipated, one filled with positive reactions and widespread support across the league.
“I’m so much happier now,” he said. “I’m more at peace with myself.”
--
