| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1952-12-08)December 8, 1952 (age 72) | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1966–1972 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1973 | Aston Villa | 0 | (0) |
| 1972 | →Atlanta Chiefs (loan) | 12 | (8) |
| 1973 | Atlanta Apollos | 16 | (8) |
| 1974–1979 | San Jose Earthquakes | 149 | (61) |
| 1975 | San Jose Earthquakes (indoor) | 4 | (7) |
| 1980 | Memphis Rogues | 31 | (12) |
| 1980–1981 | Atlanta Chiefs (indoor) | 15 | (13) |
| 1981 | Atlanta Chiefs | 31 | (13) |
| 1981–1986 | Pittsburgh Spirit (indoor) | 133 | (140) |
| 1982 | Carolina Lightnin' | ||
| 1986–1987 | Baltimore Blast (indoor) | 52 | (29) |
| 1987–1988 | Los Angeles Lazers (indoor) | 55 | (40) |
| Pittsburgh Beadling | |||
| International career | |||
| 1971 | England Youth | 2 | (0) |
| 1973 | United States | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1994–1995 | Pittsburgh Stingers (indoor) | ||
| 1995–1997 | Detroit Neon (indoor) | ||
| 1998–2002 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds (assistant) | ||
| 2005–200? | Pittsburgh Riverhounds (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Paul Child (born December 8, 1952) is an English-American formersoccer player who played as aforward, spending nine seasons in theNorth American Soccer League. He led the league in scoring in 1974 and was a two-time first team All-Star. He also earned twocaps with theUnited States national team in 1973. He is a member of theNational Soccer Hall of Fame.
Born inBirmingham, England, Child signed with English First Division clubAston Villa when he turned fourteen in 1966. He remained with the club for the next six seasons but never made a first-team appearance. In 1972 the nineteen-year-old Child was loaned to theAtlanta Chiefs of theNorth American Soccer League.
When Child arrived in Atlanta during the 1972 NASL season, he promptly scored eight goals in twelve games and was named a first team All Star. The Chiefs then purchased Child's contract from Villa. In 1973, the team became known as theAtlanta Apollos. In 1974, the Apollo traded Child to the expansionSan Jose Earthquakes where he led the league in scoring with fifteen goals and six assists. In1975, the NASL ran anindoor tournament during the 1974-1975 off season. The Earthquakes won the title and Child led the scoring, gaining MVP honors, with seven goals in four games. He was selected as a first team All Star for his second time that year. Child remained with the Earthquakes until 1980 when the team sold his contract to theMemphis Rogues. He scored twelve goals that year. The Rogues moved toCalgary, Canada during the off-season, but Child did not move with the team. Instead, he returned to the team with which he began his NASL career, theAtlanta Chiefs. The 1981 NASL season was Child's last in the league, which was in decline by this time. He scored thirteen goals, aided another eight, then left the league to devote himself to his indoor career. In 1982, Child returned to outdoor soccer with theCarolina Lightnin' of theAmerican Soccer League (ASL).[1] The Lightnin', coached byRodney Marsh, went to the ASL semifinals that year. In 1981, Child signed with thePittsburgh Spirit ofMajor Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He was a prolific scorer during his first three years with the team, scoring 140 goals in 133 games. In 1986, the Spirit folded and Child moved to theBaltimore Blast for one season. He then signed as a free agent with theLos Angeles Lazers for the 1987–1988 season. Child later played for the amateurPittsburgh Beadling.[2]
Child earned twocaps with theU.S. national team in 1973 despite not yet having his U.S. citizenship. His first cap came in a 2–0 win overCanada on August 5, 1973. He played again seven days later in a 1–0 win overPoland. He began the game, then came out forKyle Rote, Jr.
In 1995, Child became the head coach of theDetroit Neon of theContinental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). He was fired after the team started 2–16 in 1997, its final season.[3] On October 5, 1998, theA-LeaguePittsburgh Riverhounds hired Child as the team's director of youth development. A month later, he was named as the team's assistant coach. After the Riverhounds fired coachJohn Kowalski in 2001, Child served as interim head coach until the hiring ofKai Haaskivi. Child was fired in 2002, then rehired on December 15, 2005, as an assistant coach.
He is currently coach of a youth team composed of young refugees, BW United, in suburban Pittsburgh.[4]
Aside from working with the Riverhounds, Child is a project manager at the Allegheny Millworks in the Pittsburgh area.
In 2003, Child was inducted into theNational Soccer Hall of Fame.[5]In 2013, Child was inducted into theSan Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame.
NASL Leading Scorer: 1974
NASL First Team All Star: 1972, 1974
NASL Indoor MVP: 1975
NASL Indoor Leading Scorer: 1975