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Richie Williams (born June 3, 1970 in Middletown, New Jersey) is an American former professional soccer player, currently an assistant coach with New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.

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.

Playing career

Club

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. The two parted ways after Williams graduated. In 1992, Williams signed with the 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 DC 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 the 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 now 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

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.

Honors

United States

  • CONCACAF Gold Cup (1): 2002

D.C. United

  • MLS Cup Winners (3): 1996, 1997, 1999
  • MLS Supporters' Shield Winners (2): 1997, 1999
  • U.S. Open Cup Winners (1): 1996
  • CONCACAF Champions' Cup Winners (1): 1998
  • InterAmerican 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 MetroStars 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.

Managerial stats


References

  1. ^ NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1992-1993

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