Richie Burke
Personal information
Date of birth (1962-11-26) 26 November 1962 (age 61)[1][2]
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Youth career
Liverpool
Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Washington Diplomats
Washington Stars
Sydney Olympic
Chester City
1994 Washington Warthogs (indoor) 6 (0)
Managerial career
2011–2012 Northern Virginia Royals
2013 Livingston
2019–2021 Washington Spirit
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richie Burke (born 26 November 1962) is an English former professional footballer and former manager of Washington Spirit competing in the National Women's Soccer League. He has extensive coaching experience in Scotland and the United States.[3]

Playing career

Burke started his career with Liverpool and Everton at youth level.[4] After being released, he spent most of his professional playing career in the United States. Originally playing collegiate soccer at American University level, he then went on to play for the Washington Diplomats and the Washington Stars. He also enjoyed brief spells with Chester City in England and Sydney Olympic in Australia. Burke spent the later stages of his career playing indoor soccer with Washington Warthogs before retiring in 1994 following a career spanning 15 years.[5]

Coaching career

Coaching in the United States

Burke began his coaching career in the US soccer camp business as an owner and operator of The Players Soccer Academy. He then went on to work with the USSF in the Olympic Development Program. Burke was also employed as technical director and director of coaching at various regional powerhouse soccer clubs. He then enjoyed a successful stint at MLS club D.C. United where he worked in several positions including first-team assistant coach (from 2001 to 2003 under Ray Hudson), director of youth programs and USSF development academy head coach.[6] In his time with the academy programme he helped to secure a MLS Youth Cup Championship in 2007.[7] Burke's most recent coaching role in the US was with the Northern Virginia Royals as head coach.[8]

Livingston

In 2012, Burke moved back to the United Kingdom after securing a coaching position with Scottish Football League First Division side Livingston. In addition to this, he was also tasked with developing the clubs newly formed youth foundation.[9] Burke, who was originally appointed as technical coach of the West Lothian club,[10] was promoted to assistant manager (to Gareth Evans) following the departure of John Hughes to Hartlepool United in November 2012. After the dismissal of Gareth Evans as manager on 28 February 2013, Burke assumed the role of interim manager.[11] On 25 March 2013, he was appointed as the new permanent manager of Livingston on a contract running until the summer of 2015.[12] He left the club on 12 September, resigning for personal reasons after a slow start to the season.[13]

Washington Spirit

In January 2019, Burke was appointed head coach of the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League taking over for interim manager, Tom Torres.[14]

Misconduct allegations

See also: 2021 NWSL abuse scandal and Yates Report

In September 2021, Burke was fired following an investigation into allegations of harassment and abusive behavior towards players.[15][16]

After multiple investigations into pervasive abuse within the league, Burke was one of four coaches banned from the NWSL for life on 9 January 2023.[17]

Managerial statistics

Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Northern Virginia Royals United States 2011 2012 33 15 5 13 045.45
Livingston Scotland March 2013 September 2013 16 4 4 8 025.00
Washington Spirit United States January 2019 August 2021 24 9 7 8 037.50

References

  1. ^ Washington Spirit [@WashSpirit] (27 November 2019). "Wishing a happy birthday to our Head Coach Richie Burke!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Goff, Steven (13 January 2019). "'Football is football': Richie Burke brings decades of experience to the Washington Spirit". The Washington Post. Chicago. Retrieved 9 January 2022. Burke, 56, will apply his truths this year to something new for him: a women's pro team, the Washington Spirit.
  3. ^ "Livingston appoint new management team". Livingston F.C. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  4. ^ "New Livingston boss Richie Burke eyes a return to SPL prominence". STV. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  5. ^ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". 19 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "The Team". Livingston Youth Foundation 4 Football. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  7. ^ "PDL Coaching Staff". Northern Virginia FC. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Royals Hunt For New Coach". United Soccer Leagues (USL). 9 March 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Youth foundation land MLS coach". West Lothian Courier. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  10. ^ "Livingston dare to dream". The Scotsman. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Club statement". Livingston F.C. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Livingston appoint new management team". Livingston F.C. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  13. ^ Brian McLauchlin (12 September 2013). "Livingston replace manager Richie Burke with John McGlynn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  14. ^ Balf, Celia (8 January 2019). "Spirit hire Richie Burke as head coach, name technical staff". NWSL. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  15. ^ Fels, Sam. "Now we may know why Richie Burke is no longer coaching the Washington Spirit". Deadspin. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  16. ^ Grannam, Cydney (28 September 2021). "Washington Spirit Coach Fired After Investigation Into Verbal Abuse". DCist. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  17. ^ Greenawalt, Tyler (9 January 2023). "NWSL announces permanent ban for ex-Thorns coach Paul Riley, other sanctions following misconduct investigation". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
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