Rob Gale, a former English professional footballer and coach, has been married to Erin, and the couple has two daughters.
He met Erin while he visited Winnipeg, Manitoba, for work in 2000.
The Portland Thorns announced Tuesday that head coach Rob Gale is leaving the club.
The team stated that Gale and the organization have “agreed to part ways,” but did not give a specific reason. The departure appears to be immediate.
Assistant coach Sarah Lowdon will step in as the interim head coach while the club begins its search for a new permanent leader.
The club also announced that first assistant coach Adam Day is departing.
Gale first joined the Thorns as an assistant in 2023 and became head coach in 2024. During his tenure, the team made two consecutive playoff appearances.
We are grateful to Rob for his dedication to the Thorns and the positive influence he has had on our players and staff. We thank Rob for his contributions and wish him the best in his next endeavor.
Thorns General Manager Jeff Agoos
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The Rob Gale Story of Love, Wife, And Two Daughters
Rob Gale’s connection to Winnipeg is not just about soccer, but it’s about family.
His story began in 2000 when he visited Manitoba for work assigned by Fulham FC to oversee a one-month soccer camp.
Gale met his future wife, Erin, while working with Winnipeg Youth Soccer.
She was a university student whose summer job with the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association was to help the English coaches at the camp.
A year later, he moved to the city permanently, and the couple married in 2003. They have built a life together with their two daughters.
Despite a demanding career, Gale prioritizes his family. The couple enjoyed vacations to both Bali and New York City in 2024.
His family ties to soccer run deep, with five family members, including his brother-in-law John Peacock, holding UEFA coaching licences.
Gale’s deepest roots are firmly planted in Winnipeg with his wife, Erin, and their two daughters. Isolated from his family, he spent his early days in Portland living out of hotels, searching for permanent housing.
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How a Wife’s Insight Changed a Coach’s Career
Coaching soccer initially felt like a chore for Rob Gale.
When the former Fulham FC player was assigned to a youth camp in Winnipeg in 2000, his focus was solely on playing the game.
Gale’s perspective completely changed thanks to a pivotal conversation with his wife, Erin.
She pointed out the significant impact he could have on young children and told him to recognize the impact a coach and someone in his position can have.
This was a turning point for Gale. He began to see coaching not as a secondary duty, but as a powerful way to channel his passion for the game and make a real difference.
That new mindset led to incredible success.
As Technical Director for Manitoba Soccer from 2006 to 2014, Gale helped develop a record number of players who went on to represent Canada. Later, he became Canada’s Men’s U-20 coach.
I tell my kids, if you can find your passion and somehow turn it into a way to make it your job, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. That’s the old saying. I honestly feel that. I’ve had such unique and wonderful opportunities and have been very, very fortunate like that.
Rob Gale
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Robert Peter Tabo Gale, the son of a football coach, Mick, was born on August 3, 1977, in Zambia.
- He attended Reigate College and Oakwood School before studying broadcast journalism and media production at the University of Luton.
