Richie Williams
Encyclopedia
Richie Williams is an American former professional soccer player and coach.
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 the MetroStars
and D.C. United
. He also amassed 20 caps for the United States men's national soccer team
, and spent time as the interim head coach
of New York Red Bulls.
Williams played at Mater Dei High School
.
, former coach of the United States men's national team. Arena first coached Williams at the University of Virginia
. The two parted ways after Williams graduated. In 1992, Williams signed with Buffalo Blizzard
in the National Professional Soccer League. 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.
In February 1996, Williams was drafted by Arena, who then coached D.C. United
, 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 DC 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.
in January 2006. On June 27, 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 clubs top assistant coach, until he was once again called on to serve as the clubs interim coach replacing Juan Carlos Osorio
for the remaining 8 matches of the 2009 season.
Williams was retained by Red Bulls as an assistant coach for the 2010 season before being abruptly fired on February 28, 2011, just three weeks before the start of the 2011 MLS season.
Williams was appointed as the head coach for the United States U-18 men's team in October 2011. Williams was a member of the U.S. National team with his most prestigous moment coming when he was a part of the 2002 U.S. squad that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, most notably for the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
and D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. He also amassed 20 caps for the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, and spent time as the interim head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of New York Red Bulls.
Williams played at Mater Dei High School
Mater Dei High School (New Jersey)
Mater Dei High School is a four-year Catholic coeducational high school, located in the New Monmouth section of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Mater Dei is part of St. Mary Parish and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton...
.
Club
Williams' career has been closely tied to Bruce ArenaBruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
, former coach of the United States men's national team. Arena first coached Williams at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. The two parted ways after Williams graduated. In 1992, Williams signed with Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
in the National Professional Soccer League. 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
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USISL. That fall, he moved to Ayr United in Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
but then came back to the United States, signing with the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USISL in 1994. Williams played two seasons with the Kickers, helping them to the 1995 U.S. Open Cup
1995 U.S. Open Cup
- First Round :* AAC Eagles 1-2 Chicago Stingers * Connecticut Wolves 0-3 New York Centaurs * Tampa Bay Cyclones 2-4 Atlanta Ruckus * Richmond Kickers 6-1 Maryland Spartans...
and USISL titles.
In February 1996, Williams was drafted by Arena, who then coached D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, in the fourth round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. 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
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
titles.
Williams was traded to MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
for Mike Ammann
Mike Ammann
Mike Ammann is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in England and Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
in 2001, spent a year there and was sent back to DC for Brian Kamler
Brian Kamler
Brian Kamler is a retired American soccer midfielder, who 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....
. His MLS career ended with the Metros in a trade with Eddie Pope
Eddie Pope
George Edward Pope is a retired American soccer player who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer and spent eleven years as a defender for the United States national team. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.-Youth:Born in Greensboro, he attended Southwest Guilford...
and Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno
Jaime Moreno Morales is a former Bolivian footballer now serving as Youth Academy Technical Training Coach for D.C. United in Major League Soccer, and as the head coach of D.C. United's U-23 side....
for Mike Petke
Mike Petke
Mike Petke is a former American soccer player who is now an assistant coach with New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.-College:...
, a draft pick, and an allocation
Allocation (MLS)
In Major League Soccer, an allocation represents an amount of money teams can use to sign players and/or allocate to their salaries to get under the salary cap. Allocations are given to teams that have missed the playoffs the previous seasons, given to expansion teams, or awarded as compensation...
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
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
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
Leigh Cowlishaw
Leigh Cowlishaw is a former English footballer and current manager for Richmond Kickers in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
, and retired from playing shortly thereafter.
International
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.D.C. United
- MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
Winners (3): 1996, 1997, 1999 - MLS Supporters' ShieldMLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
Winners (2): 1997, 1999 - U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
Winners (1): 1996 - CONCACAF Champions' Cup Winners (1): 1998
- InterAmerican CupCopa InteramericanaCopa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
Winners (1): 1998
Richmond Kickers
- USISL Premier League Champions: 1995
- US Open Cup Champions: 1995
- James River Cup: 2004, 2005
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 MetroStarsMetrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
in January 2006. On June 27, 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
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
head coach Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
's appointment with the club. He remained as the clubs top assistant coach, until he was once again called on to serve as the clubs interim coach replacing Juan Carlos Osorio
Juan Carlos Osorio
Juan Carlos Osorio The Recreationist , is a Colombian football manager and former football player who began his career in 1980 with Deportivo Pereira. He is currently managing Puebla FC in Mexico....
for the remaining 8 matches of the 2009 season.
Williams was retained by Red Bulls as an assistant coach for the 2010 season before being abruptly fired on February 28, 2011, just three weeks before the start of the 2011 MLS season.
Williams was appointed as the head coach for the United States U-18 men's team in October 2011. Williams was a member of the U.S. National team with his most prestigous moment coming when he was a part of the 2002 U.S. squad that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % | ||||
| New York Red Bulls (interim coach) |  |
June 2006 | August 2006 |
|||||||
| New York Red Bulls (interim coach) | |
August 2009 | October 2009 |
|||||||
| Total |
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