Robert Millar (soccer)

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Robert Millar (b. May 12, 1890 (Paisley), - d. February, 1967 (Staten Island), (New York)) was the coach of the USA team that participated in the first FIFA World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930 [1]. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Millar was coach of the national side from 1929 - 1933. In Scotland Millar had first played for St. Mirren before emigrating to New York in 1911 finding his feet with Bethlehem Steel club during a personally successful 1915 season. (The side won the US Open Cup that season). His coaching career began after appearing for the New York Nationals in 1925, going on to coach them before becoming national football coach in 1929.

The success of the national side at the first World Cup in finishing as semi-finalists came as something of a surprise, more so since they won both of their group matches (against Belgium and Paraguay) without conceding a goal. In the semi-final they suffered considerable ill-luck, two players being injured during the game against Argentina [2].

Millar was inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950 [3].