| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1956-10-18)18 October 1956 (age 69) | ||
| Place of birth | Houghton-le-Spring, England | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1977 | Middlesbrough | 49 | (7) |
| 1976–1981 | Minnesota Kicks | 134 | (80) |
| 1979–1981 | Minnesota Kicks (indoor) | 30 | (39) |
| 1981–1982 | Montreal Manic (indoor) | 10 | (2) |
| 1981–1983 | Montreal Manic | 80 | (34) |
| 1984 | Minnesota Strikers | 24 | (15) |
| 1984–1988 | Minnesota Strikers (indoor) | 191 | (151) |
| 1988–1989 | San Diego Sockers (indoor) | 47 | (20) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Alan Willey (born 18 October 1956) is an English formerfootballer who spent most of his playing career in the United States. He was inducted into theNational Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.[1]
Born inHoughton-le-Spring, Willey is the second-leading goal scorer in the history of theNorth American Soccer League (NASL).[2] Willey played most of his career with theMinnesota Kicks and was inducted into the U.S.National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
He began his career with the English football clubMiddlesbrough in 1974.[3] In the NASL, he played for the Minnesota Kicks (1976 to 1981), theMontreal Manic (1981 to 1983) and theMinnesota Strikers (1984).
He finished his NASL career with 129 goals in 238 games[4] and an additional 13 goals in 26 play-off games. He memorably scored five goals in a play-off game against theNew York Cosmos in 1978. His nickname was 'The Artful Dodger.'[5]