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History Corner: Robbie Hooker

History Corner: Robbie Hooker

This week we look at the career of Socceroo #370, Robbie Hooker.

Born in 1967, Robbie started his football career with Mt Colah Football Club. In 1978 Robbie started playing representative football in the Under 11s, continuing until the Under 16s in 1983. In his time at Ku-ring-gai, Robbie was selected to play for NSW every year at a time when NSW dominated the National Championships. When the team was in Under 13s it finished equal first in the Metropolitan Championships and went on to win the State Championships. Amongst Robbie’s teammates were future NSL players Brian Ellem and Andy Harper, and regular State squad members Greg Fisher and Duncan Worthington.

In 1984 Robbie was awarded a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport. In 1986 he joined Sydney City in their last season in the  NSL and made 15 appearances, thus starting a long association with Eddie Thomson. In 1987 he joined Sydney Olympic with Thomson and in 1990 captained the club to its first NSL title. In 1992 Robbie moved to West Adelaide with which he played until 1997 and followed with stints at Sydney United, Marconi, Canberra Cosmos and Auckland Kings in the NSL and a final season with APIA Leichhardt in the NSW Super League.

In his 18-year career Robbie played 375 senior games and scored 21 goals. Robbie was one of the best defenders that ever played in the National League and was known for his ability to read the game and break down attacking moves. From a very young age Robbie was recognised as an excellent captain and leader.

While still at Sydney Olympic, Robbie tried his hand at coaching when he became player/coach at Premier League club Hornsby RSL. Robbie was at Hornsby RSL from 1988 to 1991 except for a short spell playing in the New Zealand league in 1989. RSL went on to win the KDSA Cup in 1989 under caretaker player/coach Alan Woods. Robbie returned to RSL in 1990 and went within a whisker of guiding the club to its first ever Premier League title; they conceded just 7 goals and finished equal on points with West Pymble but lost out on goal difference. However, the club went one better in 1991, winning its first and only Premier League title by 5 points from Wahroonga.

In 1984 Robbie was selected as captain of the Australian Under 20 team for the 1985 FIFA World Youth Cup in the USSR. A teammate in that tournament was Ange Postecoglou. Also, in 1985 Robbie made his debut in the Under 23 Australian side. In 1990 Robbie made his senior debut in a friendly against Hajduk Split but did not play for the Socceroos again until 1995. Robbie played 20 full internationals and 2 other matches for the Socceroos and scored 2 goals. However, in those matches Robbie played in the Oceania Championships winning team in 1996 and the team that finished runners-up in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. The team defeated Mexico and drew with Brazil in the group stages, then knocked Uruguay out of the tournament in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, as many would remember, the Socceroos were soundly beaten by Brazil 6-0 in the final.

Robbie was also in the team that drew with Iran at the MCG in 1997 and lost on aggregate on the away-goals rule after leading 2-0 in the match and 2-1 on aggregate. The first match in Iran was a 1-1 draw. Had the Socceroos won that night they would have qualified for the 1998 World Cup Finals.

Upon his retirement, Robbie took up coaching as assistant to Tom Sermanni in the USA and then again with the Matildas. In 2008-09 Robbie became head coach at Canberra United in the inaugural W-League, taking them to the grand-final. The United squad featured fellow NSFA juniors and Matildas Thea Slatyer (Greenwich) and Rhian Davies (Kissing Point), as well as current Northern Tigers player Ellie Brush.

In 2010 Holger Osieck was appointed coach of the Socceroos and he appointed Robbie as an assistant coach. Robbie left that role in 2013 when Osieck’s contract was terminated.

Robbie has returned to his home association and his home club Mt Colah, after a short spell as player/coach of Kissing Point in the Men’s Premier League. He coaches his twin boys and plays Over 35s for the club and was this year appointed as the club’s Technical Director.

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