Richie Williams
- U.S. National Team: U-17 Men's National Team
- Position: Head Coach
- Date Of Birth: June 3, 1970
- Hometown: Middleton Township, N.J.
Richie Williams was named the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach in January of 2012, moving into the position just a few months after being appointed the U-18 MNT head coach in October of 2011.
As the U-17 MNT head coach, Williams takes on the task of leading the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program, which has been in place since 1999. Williams has his sights set on the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The former U.S. National Team midfielder recently spent five seasons an assistant coach for Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls. During his Red Bulls tenure, he also had two stints as the team’s interim head coach. Williams began his coaching career in 2005 as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, where he spent two seasons.
After graduating from Virginia in 1992 with two NCAA National Championships under his belt, Williams joined indoor side Buffalo Blizzard and played 30 games with the team during the 1992-93 National Professional Soccer League season. Williams signed with the Richmond Kickers in the U.S. International Soccer League in 1993. That same year, Williams had a brief stint with Scotland’s Ayr United before returning to the Kickers for the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
Williams joined MLS for the league’s first season and D.C. United selected him in the fourth round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft, where he reunited with his college coach, Bruce Arena. In his five seasons with D.C., Williams helped the club win three MLS Cup titles. Williams also won back-to-back U.S. Open Cups, in 1995 with the Kickers and in 1996 with D.C. United.
D.C. traded Williams to the NY/NJ MetroStars in 2001, where he spent a year with the team. Williams returned to D.C. United in 2002, but went back to the MetroStars the following season. He closed out his professional playing career with the Richmond Kickers and officially retired in September 2005.
Williams made his international debut for the U.S. MNT on Nov. 6, 1998, against Australia. He made a total of 20 appearances for the team between 1998 and 2002, helping the U.S. to 12 wins, including the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also was a member of the U-23 and U-20 Men’s National Teams during his career.
As the U-17 MNT head coach, Williams takes on the task of leading the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program, which has been in place since 1999. Williams has his sights set on the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The former U.S. National Team midfielder recently spent five seasons an assistant coach for Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls. During his Red Bulls tenure, he also had two stints as the team’s interim head coach. Williams began his coaching career in 2005 as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, where he spent two seasons.
After graduating from Virginia in 1992 with two NCAA National Championships under his belt, Williams joined indoor side Buffalo Blizzard and played 30 games with the team during the 1992-93 National Professional Soccer League season. Williams signed with the Richmond Kickers in the U.S. International Soccer League in 1993. That same year, Williams had a brief stint with Scotland’s Ayr United before returning to the Kickers for the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
Williams joined MLS for the league’s first season and D.C. United selected him in the fourth round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft, where he reunited with his college coach, Bruce Arena. In his five seasons with D.C., Williams helped the club win three MLS Cup titles. Williams also won back-to-back U.S. Open Cups, in 1995 with the Kickers and in 1996 with D.C. United.
D.C. traded Williams to the NY/NJ MetroStars in 2001, where he spent a year with the team. Williams returned to D.C. United in 2002, but went back to the MetroStars the following season. He closed out his professional playing career with the Richmond Kickers and officially retired in September 2005.
Williams made his international debut for the U.S. MNT on Nov. 6, 1998, against Australia. He made a total of 20 appearances for the team between 1998 and 2002, helping the U.S. to 12 wins, including the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also was a member of the U-23 and U-20 Men’s National Teams during his career.
