Robbie Slater
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Robbie Slater

Socceroos Legend

Robbie Slater played 44 Tests for the Socceroos including the infamous 1997 World Cup qualifier against Iran. Robbie’s most memorable game was the World Cup qualifier between Australia and Argentina played at the Sydney Football Stadium in 1993 which also included Diego Maradona. The match ended 1-1 draw but Robbie’s midfield performance caught the attention of the Argentine press and team. Without any knowledge of who Slater was, Maradona labelled Robbie “the red one”. Robbie is a member of the Australia Football Hall of Fame.

Following a successful domestic career which included 251 NSL games for 66 goals and winning an NSL Championship, Robbie played overseas with Anderlecht (Belgium), Lens (France) and English clubs Blackburn, West Ham, Southampton and Wolverhampton. In 1995 he won the English Premiership with Blackburn. He is still the only Australian to have an English Premier League winner’s medal. Robbie was also the Southampton Footballer of the Year in 1997.

Robbie was selected in the Australian teams for the 1988 Olympic Games and Bicentennial Gold Cup. He won selection for the 1990, 1994 and 1998 World Cup campaigns. He played in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup where Australia finished runners-up, losing to Brazil in the final. During his national career, Robbie played against Brazil, Yugoslavia, Canada, Argentina, France, Scotland and New Zealand, won the Oceania Footballer of the Year Award in 1991 and 1993 and was runner-up in the Oceania Footballer of the Decade poll for 1988-1997.

 

In 1998 Robbie joined new Sydney NSL club Northern Spirit as Captain and retired in 2001 after playing 44 games for Australia.

Since retirement, Robbie has taken up television commitments and formed the Robbie Slater Football Academy for development of young players aged eight to 10, with a percentage of profits donated to various charities and he has written an autobiographical book in the late nineties called 'The Hard Way' on his playing career.

Robbie is currently a senior commentator for the Hyundai A-League with FOX Sports.

 

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