Richie Williams

Last updated

Richie Williams
RichieWilliams.jpg
Williams in 2003
Personal information
Full name Richard Williams
Date of birth (1970-06-03) June 3, 1970 (age 54)
Place of birth Middletown Township, New Jersey, United States
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1988–1991 Virginia Cavaliers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1992–1993 Buffalo Blizzard (indoor) 30 (10)
1993 Richmond Kickers
1993–1994 Ayr United
1994–1995 Richmond Kickers
1996–2000 D.C. United 143 (8)
2001 MetroStars 21 (0)
2002 D.C. United 26 (0)
2003 MetroStars 26 (0)
2004–2005 Richmond Kickers 53 (2)
Total299(20)
International career
1989 United States U20
1992 United States U23
1998–2002 United States 20 (0)
Managerial career
2005–2006 Virginia Cavaliers (assistant)
2006–2011 New York Red Bulls (assistant)
2006 New York Red Bulls (interim)
2009 New York Red Bulls (interim)
2011–2012 United States U18
2012–2015 United States U17
2015–2016 Real Salt Lake (assistant)
2017–2018 United States (assistant)
2019 Loudoun United
2019–2023 New England Revolution (assistant)
2023 New England Revolution (interim head coach)
2024– New England Revolution II
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2002
Men's Soccer
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard "Richie" Williams (born June 3, 1970) is an American soccer coach and former player who is currently the head coach of MLS Next Pro side New England Revolution II.

Contents

Known for his diminutive height and his dogged tackling, Williams spent the vast majority of his playing career in the United States, playing one season in the National Professional Soccer League, two in USISL, two in the USL A-League, and eight in Major League Soccer, most notably for D.C. United. He also earned 20 caps for the United States national team.

As a player, he won national championships at the youth (Union NJ Lancers, McGuire Cup U-19 in 1988), college (University of Virginia, NCAA Champions in 1989, 1991 and 1992), and professional (DC United, MLS Cups in 1996, 1997 and 1999) levels.

Since the end of his playing career, Williams has been involved in coaching, including as head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team and as an assistant coach in Major League Soccer for the New York Red Bulls and the New England Revolution.

Club career

Early career

Williams was born in Middletown Township, New Jersey and attended Mater Dei High School. [1] Williams' career has been closely tied to Bruce Arena, former coach of the United States men's national team. Arena first coached Williams at the University of Virginia. [2] The two parted ways after Williams graduated. In 1992, Williams signed with Buffalo Blizzard in the National Professional Soccer League. [3] He played thirty games for the Blizzard during the 1992-1993 winter indoor season. In the spring of 1993, he signed with the Richmond Kickers of the USISL. That fall, he moved to Ayr United in Scottish Football League but then came back to the United States, signing with the Richmond Kickers of the USISL in 1994. Williams played two seasons with the Kickers, helping them to the 1995 U.S. Open Cup and USISL titles.

Major League Soccer

In February 1996, Williams was drafted by D.C. United head coach Bruce Arena in the fourth round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. Making up for his height with his ferocious shadowing of the opponent's top playmaker, he became an integral member of the early DC teams, helping them to three MLS Cup titles.

Williams was traded to MetroStars for Mike Ammann in 2001, spent a year there and was sent back to D.C. for Brian Kamler. His MLS career ended with the Metros in a trade with Eddie Pope and Jaime Moreno for Mike Petke, a draft pick, and an allocation before the 2003 season. Williams tallied just eight goals and added 33 assists in 216 regular season games in MLS (plus two goals and four assists in 26 playoff games).

Williams signed with his original American team Richmond Kickers which then played in the USL A-League, prior to the 2004 season, but left the club in September 2005 after disagreements with the coach Leigh Cowlishaw, and retired from playing shortly thereafter.

International career

Williams earned his first cap for the United States on November 6, 1998, against Australia, and went on to appear 20 times for the national team.

Coaching career

Williams spent several years as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, before being named an assistant coach with the MetroStars in January 2006. In June 2006, Williams was named interim head coach of the re-branded New York Red Bulls, and went back as assistant following former United States men's national soccer team head coach Bruce Arena's appointment with the club. He remained as the club's top assistant coach, until he was once again called on to serve as the club's interim coach replacing Juan Carlos Osorio for the remaining eight matches of the 2009 season. Williams was retained by Red Bulls as an assistant coach for the 2010 season before being abruptly fired just three weeks before the start of the 2011 MLS season. [1]

In October 2011, Williams was hired as the head coach of the U-18 national team. [4] Three months later he was named head coach of the United States men's national under-17 soccer team. [5] After the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Williams departed the program. [6]

In January 2019, Williams was hired as the head coach of Loudoun United FC in the USL Championship. [7] He left the team on May 30 to take a job as an assistant coach for the New England Revolution. [8]

In August 2020 during the “MLS is Back Tournament” in a COVID-shortened season, Williams assumed head coaching duties of the New England Revolution for three games (a win and a tie, extending the team's unbeaten streak to eight games) while Bruce Arena served a temporary suspension.

On August 1, 2023, the New England Revolution announced that Bruce Arena was placed on administrative leave amid allegations of "insensitive and inappropriate remarks [9] "and that Williams would act as interim head coach pending a related league investigation. On September 12, 2023, it was announced that Clint Peay would be replacing Williams as interim head coach. [10]

Williams was named head coach of the Revolution's MLS Next Pro squad New England Revolution II on January 17, 2024. [11]

Managerial statistics

TeamFromToRecord
PWDLGFGAWin %
New York Red Bulls (interim coach)June 2006August 2006832387037.50
New York Red Bulls (interim coach)August 2009October 20098323118037.50
Loudoun United FC January 28, 2019May 30, 201992431113022.22
New England Revolution August 1, 2023September 13, 2023614177016.67
Total31912103735029.03

Honors

D.C. United

Richmond Kickers

United States

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Arena</span> American soccer coach

Bruce Arena is an American soccer coach who currently serves as the head coach and sporting director of the San Jose Earthquakes.

Kenneth Scott Arena is an American former soccer defender who is currently an assistant coach for FC Cincinnati. Arena is the son of former New England Revolution and United States coach Bruce Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Kickers</span> Soccer team in Richmond, Virginia, USA

Richmond Kickers is an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia. The Kickers compete as a member of USL League One (USL1). The club was established in 1993, and began play that same year as a United States Interregional Soccer League expansion team, which at the time, was the fourth tier of soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Rongen</span> Dutch-American football coach (born 1956)

Thomas Eddy Rongen is a Dutch-American football coach who has spent the majority of his playing and coaching career in the United States. In December 2016, he was named Chief Scout of the United States men's national soccer team. Rongen won the MLS Coach of the Year award in MLS's inaugural season in 1996, leading the Tampa Bay Mutiny to the best regular-season record. His stint managing the American Samoa national team was covered in the 2014 documentary Next Goal Wins, and the 2023 biographical comedy-drama also called Next Goal Wins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezra Hendrickson</span> Vincentian association football player and head coach

Ezra Hendrickson is a Vincentian professional football coach and former player. He was the head coach of Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire FC from November 24, 2021 until his dismissal on May 8, 2023 and is now the manager of the Vincentian national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Petke</span> American soccer player (born 1976)

Mike Petke is an American former soccer player and coach who was most recently head coach of Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake. Prior to his tenure with Real Salt Lake, he was head coach of the New York Red Bulls, leading them to the Supporters' Shield in 2013.

Dave Sarachan is an American former soccer player and coach. Sarachan spent two seasons as a player in the North American Soccer League and four in Major Indoor Soccer League before retiring in 1982. Since then, he has coached at the collegiate, professional, and national team levels. He served as head coach with Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer from 2002 to 2007 and as interim head coach of the United States men's national soccer team from 2017 to 2018. As of July 2023, Sarachan serves as Assistant Coach for Robbie Keane’s Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club.

Brian Kamler is an American soccer coach and former player who is currently the technical director for Wisconsin United FC, a youth affiliate of Minnesota United FC. As a player, he played two seasons in the USISL, winning the 1995 U.S. Open Cup and league titles with the Richmond Kickers, and ten seasons in Major League Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Octavio Zambrano</span> Ecuadorian football coach (born 1958)

Octavio Zambrano Viera is an Ecuadorian football coach. He is a former player with international coaching experience. Zambrano has coached in North America, Latin America, and Europe. He holds a UEFA "A" diploma and a USSF "A" coaching license.

Scott Budnick is an American soccer coach who is currently the head goalkeeping coach at Louisville City FC. Budnick is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played two seasons in Major League Soccer and one in the USISL.

Curt Onalfo is an American former soccer player and coach who currently serves as sporting director of Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Soehn</span> American soccer coach (born 1966)

Tom Soehn is an American soccer coach who is the head coach of USL Championship club Birmingham Legion. A former player, his career as a defender spanned seven clubs across 12 seasons, both indoors and outdoors.

Mike "Huey" Huwiler is an American former soccer midfielder who was a member of the United States Olympic team at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 D.C. United championship team.

Clint Peay is an American soccer coach and former player who is currently serving as an assistant coach of the MLS team New England Revolution. He was a regular on the U.S. junior national teams and U.S. Olympic team in the mid-1990s. He also spent several years with D.C. United in Major League Soccer.

Miles Joseph is an American soccer coach and former player who earned three caps with the United States national soccer team. He spent six seasons as a player in Major League Soccer and part of one season in Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He currently serves as the associate head coach for Charlotte FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darren Sawatzky</span> American soccer player and coach

Darren Sawatzky is an American soccer coach and former player who is currently the head coach of the Richmond Kickers in USL League One. He spent four seasons in Major League Soccer, one season in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one in USISL and five in the United Soccer Leagues. He currently holds several coaching positions at the high school, collegiate and professional levels and was the Director of Youth Development for Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. In January 2015, he was named head coach of the Tacoma Stars of the Major Arena Soccer League.

Mark Simpson is an American former soccer player and coach. A goalkeeper, he spent six seasons with D.C. United in Major League Soccer. He backstopped the team to the MLS Cup 1996. He also spent one season in the American Professional Soccer League, two in the USISL and six in the National Professional Soccer League. He earned one cap with the U.S. National Futsal Team in 1999. He was the Director of Soccer Operations for the planned North American Soccer League team Virginia Cavalry FC.

The 1996 D.C. United season was the teams debutant season in Major League Soccer (MLS), and 1996 was the inaugural year of play in MLS competition. United would become the first club to win the MLS Cup this year.

References

  1. 1 2 Giase, Frank. "Red Bulls fire longtime assistant coaches Richie Williams, Des McAleenan", The Star-Ledger , February 28, 2011. Accessed July 20, 2011. "Williams, a Mater Dei graduate who played eight years in MLS, including stints with the MetroStars in 2001 and 2003, was entering his sixth year as an assistant coach, but he has been much more important to the team than that."
  2. ↑ "A World Cup for Richie Williams, better late than never". Socceramerica.com. March 17, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  3. ↑ "NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1992-1993". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Richie Williams Named Head Coach of U-18 Men's National Team - U.S. Soccer". Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Richie Williams Named U.S. U-17 MNT Head Coach - U.S. Soccer". Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  6. ↑ "John Hackworth named United States U-17 head coach". Goal.com. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Richie Williams named first coach of Loudoun United". Blackandredunited.com. January 28, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Loudoun United Announces Departure of Williams". Loudoun County FC. May 30, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  9. ↑ Johnson, Bailey (August 1, 2023). "Bruce Arena placed on leave amid allegations of 'inappropriate remarks'". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Revolution shake up staff, name Clint Peay to replace Richie Williams as interim head coach - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe .
  11. ↑ "Revolution II announces updated coaching staff". RevolutionSoccer.com. New England Revolution . Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  12. ↑ All-Star Game flashback, 1997 at MLSsoccer.com
  13. ↑ "1999 MLS All-Star Game". MLSsoccer.com. July 17, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.