Full name Robert Hooker Name Robbie Hooker Years Team Current team Canberra United FC | Height 1.85 m Place of birth Australia Role Soccer player | |
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Date of birth (1967-03-06) 6 March 1967 (age 48) 1984–85 | ||
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West Adelaide Hellas.. Hooker the Hero
Robert Hooker (born 6 March 1967) is an Australian former soccer player and coach. He played for and later became assistant coach of the Australian national team.
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Playing career
Hooker started his playing career with Mount Colah Soccer Club and was a graduate of the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program, granted a scholarship in 1984 and 1985. This led to selection in the Australia U20 side for the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship finals.
Through his playing career, Hooker played in the NSL for Sydney City, Sydney Olympic, West Adelaide, Sydney United, Marconi, Canberra Cosmos and Auckland Kingz. He later finished his career in the NSW Premier League with APIA Leichhardt and Belconnen Blue Devils.
He was first selected for the Socceroos in 1990, coming on as a substitute against touring club side Hajduk Split. He would make his first appearance in an 'A' international later that year away to South Korea. From 1995 to 1998 he was a regular selection in the national team, including inclusion in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup squad.
Coaching
After his playing career, he took up coaching in women's football, first in the United States before returning to Australia. In 2008/2009, Hooker joined [W-League] club, Canberra United as its inaugural coach. He only stayed on as manager of United for one season. In 2010, following the appointment of Holger Osieck as Socceroos boss, Hooker was employed as his assistant, as well with Aurelio Vidmar