A day after global icon David Beckham was signed by the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, Oregon State’s Robbie Findley became his future teammate. Findley was selected by the Galaxy in the second round (16th overall) in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft on Friday.
Findley was the highest-rated forward in the draft according to some experts. He had an excellent showing at the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last weekend.
“I was excited when my name was called,” Findley said. “Before that, I was nervous sitting there. I didn’t know when I was going to get picked. It was just sitting there praying. It was a lot of relief when my name was called. I’ve been watching the Galaxy since I was a little kid. To go out there and to have the chance to play with David Beckham, who has played in the best leagues in the world, I can learn a lot from that. I knew the Galaxy were interested in me because I had talked to them at the combine and they said that they hoped they could get me. That’s why I was nervous in the first round because they kept trading their picks. I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
He is the third Oregon State player (and the highest drafted) to be taken in the MLS SuperDraft. Alan Gordon was taken by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2004 (sixth round, 53rd overall). Findley and Gordon played together at Oregon State in 2003 and will be reunited with the Galaxy. Ryan Johnson was taken by Real Salt Lake in 2006 (third round, 26th overall), and he now plays for the Chicago Fire.
Findley was the first player from the Pacific-10 Conference chosen in 2007 and one of three taken by the Galaxy. Other Pac-10 players drafted were Ty Harden of Washington (2nd round, 23rd overall, Los Angeles), Tally Hall of San Diego State (4th round, 44th overall, Los Angeles) and Eric Ebert of California (4th round, 52nd overall, Houston).
Findley earned three consecutive NSCAA All-Far West Region honors. He was named to the 2006 second team, the 2005 first team and the 2004 third team. He also earned All-Pac-10 first team honors in 2006 to become a four-time All-Pac-10 selection. He made the first team as a sophomore, junior and senior (becoming the first OSU player ever to make the first team three times) and made the second team as a 2003 freshman. He was also the 2003 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.
He led the 2006 squad with six goals, five assists and 17 points. On OSU’s all-time lists, he ended his four-year career tied for first in game-winning goals (10), third in goals (28), third in points (71) and tied for fourth in assists (15).
Findley holds dual citizenship with Trinidad & Tobago and has been part of their Under-23 National Team camp.
He comes from an athletic family: his cousins include Mike Bibby of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, Shaun McDonald of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams and Ryan Walcott, a former basketball player at UCLA.