View source for Robin Fraser

{{Short description|American soccer player and coach (born 1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Robin Fraser
| image = Robin Fraser.jpg
| caption = Fraser in 2017
| full_name = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|17}}
| birth_place = [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica
| height = 6ft 1in
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub = [[Toronto FC]] (head coach)
| collegeyears1 = 1985–1988
| college1 = [[FIU Golden Panthers]]
| collegecaps1 = 
| collegegoals1 = 
| years1 = 1988–1989
| clubs1 = [[Miami Freedom|Miami Sharks]]
| caps1 = 
| goals1 = 
| years2 = 1990–1995
| clubs2 = [[Colorado Foxes]]
| caps2 = 93
| goals2 = 6
| years3 = 1996–2000
| clubs3 = [[Los Angeles Galaxy]]
| caps3 = 129
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2001–2003
| clubs4 = [[Colorado Rapids]]
| caps4 = 74
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2004–2005
| clubs5 = [[Columbus Crew]]
| caps5 = 57
| goals5 = 0
| totalcaps = 353+
| totalgoals = 7+
| nationalyears1 = 1988–2001
| nationalteam1 = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1 = 27
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2007–2011
| managerclubs1 = [[Real Salt Lake]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2011–2012
| managerclubs2 = [[Chivas USA]]
| manageryears3 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs3 = [[New York Red Bulls]] (assistant)
| manageryears4 = 2015–2019
| managerclubs4 = [[Toronto FC]] (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 2019–2023
| managerclubs5 = [[Colorado Rapids]]
| manageryears6 = 2025–
| managerclubs6 = [[Toronto FC]]
| medaltemplates = 
}}

'''Robin Fraser''' (born December 17, 1966) is a professional [[association football|soccer]] coach and former player. He is the head coach of [[Major League Soccer]] club [[Toronto FC]]. He previously served as head coach of [[Colorado Rapids]] and [[Chivas USA]] and as an assistant for [[Real Salt Lake]], Toronto, and the [[New York Red Bulls]].

A former [[Defender (association football)|defender]], Fraser played six seasons in the [[American Professional Soccer League]] and ten in [[Major League Soccer]]. He earned 27 [[cap (sports)|caps]] with the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]] between 1988 and 2001.

==Youth and college==
Fraser was born in Jamaica and grew up in [[Miami, Florida]] where he played soccer at [[Miami Palmetto High School]]. He played [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] at [[Florida International University]] from 1984 to 1988, leading the team to an [[NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament|NCAA Division II Championship]] as a freshman. After the team moved to Division I before the 1987 season, he was recognized as a 1987 and 1988 second-team All-American,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1987 |title=1987 All American |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614233809/http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1987 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1988 |title=1988 All American |access-date=January 20, 2009 |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615004454/http://www.nscaa.com/awards-detail.php?it=I&yr=1988 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was a finalist for the [[Hermann Trophy]] as a senior.

==Playing career==
===Professional===
In 1988, Fraser signed with the [[Miami Freedom|Miami Sharks]] in the [[American Soccer League (1988-1989)|American Soccer League]]. He played two seasons with the Sharks. In 1990, he moved to the [[Colorado Foxes]] of the [[American Professional Soccer League]], for whom he played from 1990 to 1995. While with the Foxes, Fraser was named an APSL All-Star four straight years, from 1992 to his final season in 1995.

When [[Major League Soccer]] was created, he was the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]]'s first selection (fourth overall) in the [[1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft]]. Fraser played five seasons with Galaxy, and was named to the league's [[MLS Best XI|Best XI]] four times (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000), and was named [[MLS Defender of the Year Award|MLS Defender of the Year]] in 1999.

Fraser was traded to the [[Colorado Rapids]] in a salary-cap-related move before the 2001 season. He spent three years in Colorado, before being traded to the [[Columbus Crew]] for two draft picks. Fraser anchored the Crew defense in 2004, and was once again considered one of the best in MLS at the position, winning his second Defender of the Year award and being named to his fifth Best XI while captaining the Crew to the [[MLS Supporters' Shield|Supporters' Shield]]. During the 2003 and 2004 season, Fraser helped mentor two of MLS's most promising young defenders, [[Nat Borchers]] and [[Chad Marshall]]. Never a big scorer, Fraser only scored one regular season and one playoff goal in his entire MLS career. He retired after the 2005 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=MLS original Robin Fraser retires |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-original-robin-fraser-retires |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226231643/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-original-robin-fraser-retires |archive-date=2023-02-26 |access-date=2023-02-26 |work=MLSsoccer.com |language=en}}</ref>

Fraser was honored as one of The 25 Greatest players in MLS history on December 10, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The 25 Greatest|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/the-25-greatest-presented-by-att|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209182219/https://www.mlssoccer.com/the-25-greatest-presented-by-att|archive-date=December 9, 2020|access-date=|website=|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===International===
Although Fraser was born in Jamaica, he chose to represent the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] at the international level, after becoming a citizen in June 1986. He made his debut against [[Chile national football team|Chile]] on June 1, 1988, and amassed 27 caps. His last came in a scoreless tie with [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]] on June 7, 2001.

==Coaching career==
===Early Career & Chivas USA===
During the late 90s, Robin Fraser and Greg Vanney co-coached a local girls soccer club in Los Angeles California known as the Santa Anita Soccer Club or SASC.
In 2007, [[Real Salt Lake]] hired Fraser as a third assistant coach. On January 4, 2011, Fraser was hired as the new head coach of [[Chivas USA]], becoming the team's sixth coach in seven years.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_/ai_n19341323 RSL welcomes Fraser as assistant coach]</ref>

Fraser was dismissed by Chivas after a two-year run saw him post a 15–32–21 record, including a 14-match winless streak in his second season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/11/09/chivas-part-ways-fraser-vanney-restructuring-continues|title=Chivas part ways with Fraser as restructuring continues|publisher=MLS|date=November 9, 2012|access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> During the off-season, he was named as an assistant coach for the [[New York Red Bulls]] under new head coach [[Mike Petke]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2013/01/red-bulls-name-robin-fraser-assistant-coach|title=Red Bulls Name Robin Fraser Assistant Coach|publisher=MLS|date=January 30, 2013|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-date=February 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210135522/http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2013/01/red-bulls-name-robin-fraser-assistant-coach|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After two season in New York, Fraser moved to [[Toronto FC]], where served as assistant coach alongside head coach [[Greg Vanney]]. The two previously had worked together with [[Chivas USA]], albeit in reversed roles, with Fraser the head man and Vanney working underneath him.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/08/toronto-fc-announce-hiring-ex-new-york-red-bulls-staffer-robin-fraser-assist |title=Toronto FC announce hiring of ex-New York Red Bulls staffer Robin Fraser as assistant coach &#124; MLSsoccer.com |access-date=January 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111020125/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/01/08/toronto-fc-announce-hiring-ex-new-york-red-bulls-staffer-robin-fraser-assist |archive-date=January 11, 2015 }}</ref>

===Colorado Rapids===
On August 25, 2019, Fraser became the head coach for [[Colorado Rapids]], following the dismissal of then intern head coach [[Conor Casey]]. The Rapids won their first three games under Fraser and won five of their last seven to close 2019 just shy of the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MLS Results Map 2019|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/results/2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112193007/https://www.mlssoccer.com/results/2019|archive-date=January 12, 2020|access-date=|website=|url-status=dead}}</ref> Colorado ended the season tied for the third-most goals scored in MLS with 58, the club's highest total since scoring 62 in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Colorado Rapids 2019 Season By The Numbers|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2019/11/08/colorado-rapids-2019-season-numbers|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

The Rapids' offensive growth continued in 2020. Colorado scored 32 goals in 18 games. The Rapids' 1.78 goals per game ranked sixth in MLS. Colorado posted a positive goal differential for the first time since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=In 2020, Colorado Rapids Took Steps Toward Future Success|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2020/11/25/2020-colorado-rapids-took-steps-toward-future-success|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> On Sep 12, Colorado defeated [[Real Salt Lake]], 5–0, earning its first ever win at [[Rio Tinto Stadium]] and reclaiming the [[Rocky Mountain Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Youth on Display in Dominant Win Over RSL|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2020/09/14/youth-display-dominant-win-over-rsl|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> The win also marked the Rapids' largest margin of victory ever, which they would match three games later in a 5–0 win over [[San Jose Earthquakes]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MLS Match Center|url=https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2020-09-23-colorado-rapids-vs-san-jose-earthquakes/recap|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> Fraser led Colorado on a three-game winning streak, the second of his Rapids tenure, to close out the regular season and clinch a berth in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=MLS Match Center|url=https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2020-11-08-houston-dynamo-vs-colorado-rapids/recap|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> Fraser posted the best 25-game start of any Rapids head coach in history, scoring 47 goals, winning 13 games and earning 43 points, which are the most by a Rapids head coach since the introduction of draws to MLS In 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=In 2020, the Colorado Rapids Set Foundation for 2021 Success|url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2020/11/25/2020-colorado-rapids-took-steps-toward-future-success|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref>

On March 23, 2022, the Rapids announced that Fraser had signed a new contract with the team, extending his tenure through the 2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-sign-head-coach-robin-fraser-to-multi-year-extension|title=Colorado Rapids sign head coach Robin Fraser to multi-year extension|work=MLSsoccer.com.com|date=March 23, 2022|access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref> Fraser and the Rapids parted ways on September 5, 2023, as the Rapids were in last place in the Western Conference at that point in time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-part-ways-with-head-coach-robin-fraser|title=Colorado Rapids part ways with head coach Robin Fraser|work=MLSsoccer.com|date=September 5, 2023|access-date=February 25, 2024}}</ref>

===Toronto FC===
On January 10, 2025, Fraser was announced as the head coach of Toronto FC on a three-year contract.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toronto FC appoint Robin Fraser as Head Coach {{!}} Toronto FC |url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-fc-appoint-robin-fraser-as-head-coach |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=torontofc |language=en}}</ref>

==Coaching statistics==
{{updated|match played October 18, 2025}}{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"	
|+ Coaching record by team and tenure			
|-
! rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |Nat.
! rowspan="2" |From
! rowspan="2" |To
! colspan="8" |Record	
!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}			
|-	
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}			
|-
|align=left|[[Chivas USA]]
|{{Flagicon|USA}}
|align=left|January 4, 2011
|align=left|November 9, 2012
{{WDL|73|18|21|34|for=71|against=109|diff=yes}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Chivas USA: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/united-states/club-deportivo-chivas-usa/3842/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Colorado Rapids]]
|{{Flagicon|USA}}
|align=left|August 25, 2019
|align=left|September 5, 2023
{{WDL|129|46|34|49|for=170|against=186|diff=yes}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Colorado Rapids: Matches |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/united-states/colorado-rapids/2278/|work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Toronto FC]]
|{{Flagicon|CAN}}
|align=left|January 10, 2025
|align=left|present
{{WDL|35|6|15|14|for=39|against=46|diff=yes}}
|
|-
!colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|237|70|70|97|for=280|against=341|diff=yes}}
!
|}

==Honors==
===Player===
*'''[[MLS Cup]]'''
**'''Runner-up''': 1996, 1999
*'''[[MLS Supporters' Shield]]'''
**'''Winner''': 1998, [[2004 Major League Soccer season|2004]]
**'''Runner-up''': 1996, 1999
*'''[[Eastern Conference (MLS)|MLS Eastern Conference]]'''
**'''Winners (Regular Season)''': 2004
*'''[[Western Conference (MLS)|MLS Western Conference]]'''
**'''Winners (Regular Season)''': 1996, 1998, 1999
**'''Winners (Playoffs)''': 1996, 1999
*'''[[CONCACAF Champions League|CONCACAF Champions' Cup]]'''
**'''Winners''': 2000
**'''Runner-up''': 1997

===Assistant coach===
*'''[[MLS Cup]]'''
**'''Winners''': [[MLS Cup 2009|2009]], [[MLS Cup 2017|2017]]
*'''[[MLS Supporters' Shield]]'''
**'''Winners''': 2017
**'''Runners-up''': 2010
*'''[[Eastern Conference (MLS)|MLS Eastern Conference]]'''
**'''Winners (Playoff)''': 2009, 2016
*'''[[Canadian Championship]]'''
**'''Winners:''' [[2016 Canadian Championship|2016]], [[2017 Canadian Championship|2017]], [[2018 Canadian Championship|2018]]
*'''[[CONCACAF Champions League]]'''
**'''Runners-up:''' [[2018 CONCACAF Champions League|2018]]

===Individual===
*[[MLS All-Star Game|'''MLS All-Star''']]: [[1996 MLS All-Star Game|1996]], [[1998 MLS All-Star Game|1998]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2, 1998 |title=1998 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1998-mls-all-star-game-373141 |access-date=July 27, 2023 |work=MLSsoccer.com}}</ref> [[1999 Major League Soccer All-Star Game|1999]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 1999 |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> [[2000 MLS All-Star Game|2000]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2000 |title=2000 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2000-mls-all-star-game-373143 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
*'''[[MLS Best XI]]''': 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004<ref name="FARB">{{Cite web |date=January 2023 |title=2022 Fact & Record Book |page=184 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/about/fact-and-record-book |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
*'''[[MLS Defender of the Year Award|MLS Defender of the Year]]''': 1999, 2004<ref name="FARB"/>{{rp|178}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080516085205/http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/men/fraser.htm Soccer Times player profile]
*{{NFT player|11441}}

{{Navboxes
|title= United States squads
|bg= white
|fg= #002868
|bordercolor= #BF0A30
|list1=
{{United States squad 1990 North American Nations Cup}}
{{United States squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{United States squad 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{1996 MLS Best XI}}
{{1998 MLS Best XI}}
{{1999 MLS Best XI}}
{{2000 MLS Best XI}}
{{2004 MLS Best XI}}
{{MLS Defender of the Year}}
}}
{{Toronto FC squad}}
{{Major League Soccer head coaches}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Robin Fraser managerial positions
|list1=
{{Chivas USA managers}}
{{Colorado Rapids managers}}
{{Toronto FC managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Robin}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American soccer coaches]]
[[Category:United States men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Jamaican men's footballers]]
[[Category:Jamaican football managers]]
[[Category:Jamaican emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American soccer commentators]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:FIU Panthers men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Miami Freedom players]]
[[Category:Colorado Foxes players]]
[[Category:LA Galaxy players]]
[[Category:Colorado Rapids players]]
[[Category:Columbus Crew players]]
[[Category:American Soccer League (1988–89) players]]
[[Category:American Professional Soccer League players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:1999 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars]]
[[Category:Real Salt Lake non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Chivas USA head coaches]]
[[Category:New York Red Bulls non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Toronto FC non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Colorado Rapids head coaches]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer head coaches]]
[[Category:Florida International University alumni]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Miami]]
[[Category:Miami Palmetto Senior High School alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century Jamaican sportsmen]]