Former USMNT Player to Coach Loudoun United FC
Richie Williams, a former USMNT player and three-time MLS Cup champion, will be the first head coach in Loudoun County FC history.
A midfielder, Williams played with the United States Men’s National Team between 1998 and 2002, piling up 20 caps under head coach Bruce Arena. Loudoun County FC’s new head coach has plenty of local ties, too, and a long history with Arena. Williams played four years at the University of Virginia under Arena (1988-91), followed by 169 appearances for D.C. United (1996-02) — several of which were also with Arena as head coach. During his time with D.C. United, Williams won three MLS Cups and one U.S Open Cup.
Additionally, the New Jersey native had three separate stints with the Richmond Kickers and two stints with the MetroStars (now known as the New York Red Bulls).
After his playing career wrapped up, Williams started his coaching career locally as an assistant at Virginia. From there, he was an assistant with the Red Bulls for several years, twice serving as the club’s interim head coach. As interim HC, he compiled a 6-6-4 record.
Since the turn of the decade, Williams has spent time as the head coach of United States U-18 and U-17 teams, and as an assistant for Real Salt Lake and USMNT.
This coming summer, Loudoun County FC will play their inaugural season in the United Soccer League as D.C. United’s farm team. Their first home game will be on March 9th but according to the Loudoun Times-Mirror, Loudoun United’s new stadium won’t be ready by then.
Loudoun United, a member of the 36-team USL, is scheduled to begin its season at home on March 9, although the Leesburg stadium will not be completed by then. Behnke said he expects six of this season’s 17 home games to be played at Audi Field in Washington D.C. before the home stadium in Leesburg is completed in August.
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D.C. Sports Facilities Entertainment LLC and Loudoun County have been working since last January to land Loudoun United FC, the county’s first professional sports franchise. The two groups signed a lease to formalize the arrangement, and as part of the agreement the county will pay $15 million for construction of the facility and be reimbursed by DC Soccer Management Company.
The stadium under construction includes a minimum capacity of 5,000 seats, 500-space parking lot to support the stadium, 40,000-square-foot indoor training facility and four full-size soccer fields. Two soccer fields will be used by D.C. United and Loudoun United. The other fields will be for county use.
The Loudoun Times-Mirror also reported that Loudoun United FC will hold tryouts locally in Leesburg, VA on February 9th (Loudoun Soccer Park, 2-4pm) and 10th (Evergreen Sportsplex, 12-2pm).