| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alan Ronald Merrick | ||
| Date of birth | (1950-06-20)20 June 1950 (age 74) | ||
| Place of birth | Selly Oak,Birmingham, England | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1968–1975 | West Bromwich Albion | 131 | (5) |
| 1975 | →Peterborough (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 1976–1979 | Minnesota Kicks | 103 | (4) |
| 1979–1980 | Pittsburgh Spirit (indoor) | 1 | (0) |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Aztecs | 22 | (2) |
| 1981 | San Jose Earthquakes | 12 | (0) |
| 1981 | Minnesota Kicks | 12 | (2) |
| 1982 | Toronto Blizzard | 30 | (5) |
| 1983 | Team America | 18 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1968 | England U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 1983 | United States | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1984–1988 | Minnesota Strikers | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alan Ronald Merrick (born 20 June 1950) is a retired professionalassociation footballer who played as adefender in England, theNorth American Soccer League and theMajor Indoor Soccer League. Born in England, he earned onecap with theUnited States national team in 1983, having previously represented theEngland U18.
Merrick was born inSelly Oak,Birmingham, but grew up in NorthWarwickshire, where he attendedWater Orton Junior School andColeshill Grammar School.[1] He joinedWest Bromwich Albion in July 1966, turning professional in August 1967.[1] He made his senior debut in September 1968 in aLeague Cup tie againstPeterborough United and in the same year won three England youth caps.[1] In 1975 the team loaned Merrick to second division clubPeterborough. At the end of the season, Merrick moved to the USA where he signed with theMinnesota Kicks of theNorth American Soccer League. Merrick remained with the Kicks through the 1979 season when he moved to theLos Angeles Aztecs. Merrick moved again at the end of the season, to theSan Jose Earthquakes for the 1981 season. However, after twelve games, the Earthquakes traded Merrick to theMinnesota Kicks. At the end of the 1981 season, the Kicks traded Merrick to theToronto Blizzard for the 1982 season. In 1983, theU.S. Soccer Federation, in coordination with the NASL, entered theU.S. national team, known asTeam America, into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL,Major Indoor Soccer League andAmerican Soccer League. Merrick left the Blizzard and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10–20 record, the worst in the NASL, USSF withdrew the team from the league.
In 1968, Merrick played three times for theEngland national under-18 football team at the Junior World Cup Tournament in the South of France against Bulgaria, Russia and the Netherlands.
On 8 April 1983, Merrick earned onecap with theU.S. national team in a 2–0 victory overHaiti. He started the game, but subbed out forErhardt Kapp in the second half.[2]
In 1983, Merrick retired from playing and joined the coaching ranks with theMinnesota Strikers. At the time, the Strikers played in the NASL, but after the collapse of the league in 1984, the Strikers moved toMajor Indoor Soccer League. Merrick continued to coach them through the 1987–1988 season. He is currently the head coach of theUniversity of Minnesota men's club team. Additionally, he continues to train coaches and young players through his Minneapolis-based academy. In April 2012, Merrick was named head coach of theEagan High School boys soccer team.[3]