{{Short description|English footballer and coach (born 1977)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Use British English|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Rob Gale |image = Rob Gale Gotham Portland 26 Sep 2025-010 (cropped).jpg |image_size = |caption = Gale with the Portland Thorns in 2025 |fullname = Robert Peter Tabo Gale |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1977|8|3}} |birth_place = Zambia |height = |position = Midfielder |currentclub = |youthyears1 = 1991–1994 |youthclubs1 = Fulham |years1 = 2001 |clubs1 = Winnipeg Alliance |caps1 = |goals1 = |years2 = 2002–2008 |clubs2 = Winnipeg Lucania |caps2 = |goals2 = |years3 = 2009–2012 |clubs3 = Sons of Italy |caps3 = |goals3 = |totalcaps = |totalgoals = |manageryears1 = 2010–2013 |managerclubs1 = Canada U17 (assistant) |manageryears2 = 2011–2013 |managerclubs2 = Canada U16 |manageryears3 = 2012–2015 |managerclubs3 = Canada U18 |manageryears4 = 2014–2018 |managerclubs4 = Canada U20 |manageryears5 = 2018–2021 |managerclubs5 = Valour FC |manageryears6 = 2023–2024 |managerclubs6 = Portland Thorns FC (assistant) |manageryears7 = 2024–2025 |managerclubs7 = Portland Thorns FC }}
'''Robert Peter Tabo Gale''' (born 3 August 1977) is an English former professional footballer and coach. He served as the head coach for Portland Thorns FC in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).<ref name="ore-gale">{{cite news |last=Clarke |first=Ryan |date=23 February 2023 |title=Portland Thorns hire Rob Gale, Katie Quinlan as assistant coaches under Mike Norris |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2023/03/portland-thorns-hire-rob-gale-katie-quinlan-as-assistant-coaches-under-mike-norris.html |access-date=31 May 2023 |work=The Oregonian |language=en}}</ref><ref name="thorns-gale-interim">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5420434/2024/04/16/portland-thorns-mike-norris-rob-gale/ |title=Portland Thorns promote Mike Norris to technical director, name Rob Gale interim head coach |date=16 April 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Athletic |publisher=The New York Times |first1=Meg |last1=Linehan}}</ref><ref name="thorns-gale-permanent">{{Cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/40597689/portland-thorns-name-rob-gale-head-coach |title=Portland Thorns name Rob Gale as head coach |date=19 July 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=ESPN |first1=Jeff |last1=Kassouf}}</ref>
As a player, Gale began his career in England with Fulham before taking a break to focus on his coaching qualifications. He later appeared for Canadian clubs Winnipeg Alliance, Winnipeg Lucania and Sons of Italy. Gale has also coached the Canada national team from Under-16 to Under-20, and became the first head coach and general manager of Valour FC in June 2018. On 23 September 2021, the club announced that Gale would be relieved of his duties.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jaques |first1=John |title=Valour FC Fires Rob Gale, Names Phillip Dos Santos As New Head Coach |url=https://northerntribune.ca/valour-fc-phillip-dos-santos/ |website=Northern Tribune |access-date=4 October 2021 |date=23 September 2021}}</ref> He then served as a coach with New York City FC's academy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2022 |title=Former CPL Coach Rob Gale Joins New York City FC Academy |url=https://northerntribune.ca/new-york-city-fc-rob-gale/ |access-date=17 September 2022 |website=Northern Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Playing career == Gale was signed by Football League Third Division club Fulham as an associate schoolboy aged 14.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/rob-gale-named-inaugural-head-coach-gm|title=Rob Gale named inaugural Head Coach & GM|last=Tait|first=Ed|date=26 June 2018|work=Valour Football Club|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref> After moving to Bedfordshire to study at university, he trained with Football League Second Division side Wycombe Wanderers for a year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://valourfc.canpl.ca/article/meet-the-coach-rob-gale|title=Meet the Coach: Rob Gale|last=Tait|first=Ed|date=26 June 2018|website=valourfc.canpl.ca|publisher=Valour Football Club|language=en-CA|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>
After an injury ruled Gale out for a full season and he graduated from university, he turned his attention to coaching and earned qualifications in England and the United States.<ref name=":1" /> Upon moving to Canada in 2001, Gale resumed his playing career and was named captain of indoor professional club the Winnipeg Alliance. He later played for Winnipeg Lucania and the Sons of Italy before retiring in 2012.<ref name=":0" />
== Coaching career ==
=== Early career === Initially working as a director for summer camps across the United States and the Ian Rush Finishing Schools, Gale became the director of soccer at Spencer High School in Iowa in 2001. After two years, he became director for a North American academy run by Fulham, and later became the Canada national director for Charlton Athletic's sports academy.
=== Canada Soccer === In 2006, Gale was named technical director for the Manitoba Soccer Association.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadasoccer.com/in-focus-robert-gale-p155998|title=In Focus: Robert Gale|date=2 March 2014|website=www.canadasoccer.com|publisher=Canada Soccer|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref> In 2010, he became assistant coach for the Canada U17 men's national team and saw the team qualify for successive FIFA Under-17 World Cup tournaments.<ref name=":3" /> In 2011, he came up against brother-in-law John Peacock, who was managing the England U17 national team.<ref name=":2" /> Later that year, he was named head coach for the Canada U16 men's national team, and in 2012 and became head coach of the Canada U18 men's national team.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://canadasoccer.com/?pid=1231&t=profile&|title=Rob Gale|date=14 July 2017|website=canadasoccer.com|publisher=Canada Soccer|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>
In March 2014, Gale took over as the head coach of the Canada U20 men's national team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.canadasoccer.com/rob-gale-appointed-canada-s-men-s-u-20-team-head-coach-p156145|title=Rob Gale appointed Canada's Men's U-20 Team Head Coach|date=31 March 2014|work=Canada Soccer|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>
=== Valour FC === On 26 June 2018, Gale was announced as the first head coach and general manager of Canadian Premier League club Valour FC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.timescolonist.com/rob-gale-named-first-coach-and-gm-of-valour-fc-winnipeg-s-new-cpl-entry-1.23348630|title=Rob Gale named first coach and GM of Valour FC, Winnipeg's new CPL entry|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=26 June 2018|work=Times Colonist|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref> He was relieved from his duties on 23 September 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Sam |last2=Hobson |first2=Russ |date=23 September 2021 |title=Rob Gale out as Valour FC coach immediately, team announces |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8215193/rob-gale-out-as-valour-fc-coach/ |access-date=17 September 2022 |work=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Portland Thorns FC === On 23 March 2023, Portland Thorns FC appointed Gale as an assistant coach under head coach Mike Norris.<ref name="ore-gale"/> In April 2024, the Thorns named Gale interim head coach following Norris's promotion to technical director of the Thorns.<ref name="thorns-gale-interim"/> On 19 July 2024, the Thorns appointed Gale as the permanent head coach after winning eight of his twelve games as interim coach.<ref name="thorns-gale-permanent"/>
The Thorns proceeded to win only two of the following ten regular season matches after Gale's permanent appointment, losing seven of them, to finish tied with the club's lowest league finish at sixth place.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wweek.com/sports/2024/11/07/the-thorns-get-to-start-fresh-in-the-playoffs/ |title=The Thorns Get to Start Fresh in the Playoffs |date=7 November 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=Willamette Week |first1=Leo |last1=Baudhuin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2024/10/09/portland-thorns-winless-streak-continuity-backfired-karina-leblanc-rob-gale/ |title=How the desire for continuity backfired on the Portland Thorns |date=9 October 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Equalizer |first1=Blair |last1=Newman}}</ref> The club qualified for the NWSL playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by NJ/NY Gotham FC.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland-thorns/2024/11/portland-thorns-season-ends-with-playoff-loss-to-gotham-fc.html |title=Portland Thorns' season and club legend's career end with playoff loss to Gotham FC |date=10 November 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024 |work=The Oregonian |first1=Tyson |last1=Alger |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The Thorns also finished second in Group B of the 2024-25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup group stage under Gale and qualified for the semifinals.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.concacaf.com/w-champions-cup/news/202425-concacaf-w-champions-cup-semifinals-confirmed/ |title=2024/25 Concacaf W Champions Cup Semifinals confirmed |date=18 October 2024 |access-date=18 November 2024 |publisher=Concacaf}}</ref>
On Nov. 25, 2025, the Thorns announced that Gale and the club had agreed to part ways, with assistant coach Sarah Lowdon to serve as interim head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-25 |title=Portland Thorns announce departure of Head Coach Rob Gale |url=https://www.thorns.com/news/portland-thorns-announce-departure-of-head-coach-rob-gale |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=Portland Thorns}}</ref>
== Personal life == Gale was born in Zambia to English parents while his father was working as a football coach. He also spent part of his childhood growing up in Tanzania before moving to England aged five.<ref name=":1" /> Living in Horley, Surrey, he attended Oakwood School and Reigate College before studying media production and broadcast journalism at the University of Luton.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/soccer/article-rob-gale-named-first-coach-general-manager-of-valour-fc/|title=Rob Gale named first coach, general manager of Valour FC|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=26 June 2018|work=The Globe And Mail|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref>
In 2000, Gale visited Winnipeg, Manitoba for work and met his future wife Erin. After moving to Winnipeg permanently a year later, Gale and his partner married in 2003 and now have two daughters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/valour-fc-rob-gale-head-coach-1.4722467|title=Winnipeg's new soccer club names Rob Gale as head coach and GM|date=26 June 2018|work=CBC News|access-date=26 June 2018}}</ref> Five members of his family have UEFA coaching licences, including brother-in-law John Peacock.<ref name=":1" />
He is a lifelong Arsenal supporter.<ref name=":1" />
== Managerial statistics == {{updated|21 June 2025}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Managerial record by team and tenure ! rowspan="2" |Team ! rowspan="2" |From ! rowspan="2" |To ! colspan="8" |Record |- !P!!W!!D!!L!!GF!!GA!!GD!!Win % |- | align="left" |Valour FC | align="left" |26 June 2018 | align="left" |23 September 2021 {{WDL|57|18|8|31|for=62|against=84|diff=yes}} |- | align="left" |Portland Thorns FC | align="left" |16 April 2024 | align="left" |25 November 2025 {{WDL|49|22|8|19|for=80|against=59|diff=yes}} |- ! colspan="3" |Total {{WDLtot|106|40|16|50|for=151|against=143|diff=yes}} |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{CC}} *{{Sports links}}
{{Portland Thorns FC managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gale, Rob}} Category:Living people Category:1977 births Category:Alumni of the University of Bedfordshire Category:American men's soccer players Category:Canada men's national under-20 soccer team managers Category:Canadian Premier League coaches Category:English expatriate men's footballers Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Canada Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:English football managers Category:English men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in Canada Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in the United States Category:FC Winnipeg Lions players Category:Footballers from Surrey Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:National Women's Soccer League head coaches Category:People from Horley Category:Portland Thorns FC head coaches Category:Portland Thorns FC non-playing staff Category:Valour FC non-playing staff Category:Winnipeg Alliance FC players Category:Winnipeg Lucania FC players Category:Wycombe Wanderers F.C. players