| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raymond Wilfred Hudson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1955-03-24)24 March 1955 (age 70) | ||
| Place of birth | Gateshead, England | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1977 | Newcastle United | 25 | (1) |
| 1975 | →Greenock Morton (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1977 | →Fort Lauderdale Strikers (loan) | 25 | (4) |
| 1978–1983 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 151 | (38) |
| 1983–1984 | Union Solingen | 10 | (0) |
| 1984 | Minnesota Strikers | 21 | (2) |
| 1984–1988 | Minnesota Strikers (indoor) | 112 | (41) |
| 1987 | Edmonton Brick Men | 17 | (4) |
| 1988–1989 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | ? | (?) |
| 1990 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 13 | (2) |
| 1991 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | ? | (?) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2000–2001 | Miami Fusion | ||
| 2002–2004 | D.C. United | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Raymond Wilfred Hudson (born 24 March 1955) is an English former professionalfootball player and manager who currently works as a radio host forSiriusXM FC 157. He started playing professionally at 17, in 1973, withNewcastle United. Fans nicknamed him Rocky and he stayed with theFootball League First Division side for four years before moving to the U.S. and playing with various teams for about 15 years.
When he finished his playing career, he started coaching. He was named the head coach in the middle of the 2000 season of the Miami Fusion and was then hired by D.C. United on 8 January 2002 to be their head coach. He was replaced in 2004.
Hudson then began a broadcasting career as color commentator in television and radio. In 2012, he joinedSirius XM Radio as the morning show host ofThe Football Show on SiriusXM FC 157.
Hudson signed withNewcastle United in 1973 at the age of 17, from local team Whickham Juniors. He made 25 appearances for Newcastle and fans there nicknamed him "Rocky".[2] After four years in theFootball League First Division, Hudson moved to the United States, playing for theFort Lauderdale Strikers of theNorth American Soccer League from 1977 to 1983. His former teammate at Newcastle,Paul Cannell, who like Hudson had struggled to get a first team place, in his bookFuckin' Hell It's Paul Cannell, claimed he was one of the people responsible for getting Hudson to play his football in America.[3] Cannell had spell on loan at the Washington Diplomats in the 1970s. When Cannell came back to Newcastle, Hudson, was keen to know what life and playing football was like in the US.[4] Cannell claimed he gave Hudson tales of sex, drugs, rock and roll and football.[4] In the next season Cannell played against Fort Lauderdale Strikers, a team full of world class players, and he explained Hudson was by far the best player on the pitch...[5] Hudson played the winter season of 1983–84 in Germany withUnion Solingen, making 10 appearances without scoring.[6] Hudson also played for the Strikers following their move toMinnesota in 1984, which proved to be the league's final year. Over the course of his eight years in NASL, Hudson scored 44 goals in 197 matches with 99 assists,[7] and was named to five All-NASL squads, including once as aBest XI in 1984.[8]
He followed this with a season playing forEdmonton Brick Men before joining theFort Lauderdale Strikers of theAmerican Soccer League. After a knee injury sidelined him, the Strikers released him. He spent one season (1990) playing for cross-state rivalsTampa Bay[9][10][11] before returning to the Strikers in 1991. By this time the team was playing in theAmerican Professional Soccer League. He was released by the Strikers when the club was mired in a four-match scoreless streak to begin the season. In 1992, he injured his other knee while playing in an NASL reunion match between NASL-era Strikers and Rowdies.[12]
After starting out as theMiami Fusion's community outreach director and TV commentator,[7] Hudson was named its head coach in the middle of the 2000 season, finishing the season with an 11–1–12 record. He led the club to the best regular season record inMajor League Soccer (theMLS Supporters' Shield) in 2001 with 16 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses.[2] However, the club was defeated by theSan Jose Earthquakes in the semifinal round of the playoffs.
Hudson quickly became known for his fiery personality. One memorable incident occurred after a Miami home win against theTampa Bay Mutiny. The Fusion scored five goals, usually considered an excellent performance, but Hudson was apparently unsatisfied. He stormed into the media tent and up to the podium. He said, "I've got nothing to say. Any questions? ANY QUESTIONS? No? OK!" and stormed right back out. Interviews with players after the game indicated that Hudson was angered by a perceived lack of effort, even with the Fusion's dominant win.[citation needed]
Following MLS's contraction of the Fusion, Hudson was hired to replaceThomas Rongen as head coach ofD.C. United on 8 January 2002. He continued to regale fans and journalists with his wit, stories, and quotes. He said, "There's a lot of talent on this team, and I'm talkingAnna Nicole Smith type of talent!" upon taking control of the team in 2002.[citation needed] D.C. United finished at the bottom of the table in the East in 2002 with a record of 9–5–14,[2] and were ousted in the first round byChicago Fire by a 4–0 aggregate score in the two-game series in 2003. "Someone get me a blindfold and a cigarette!" he said during the post-game news conference. He was replaced byPiotr Nowak in 2004.
Hudson's cumulative record as an MLS head coach stands at 46–20–44.
He worked forESPN's World Cup coverage in 2002, and came up with a memorable quote after theUnited States drew 1–1 with South Korea in group play. Expounding upon whether U.S. goalkeeperBrad Friedel should be thanking his defenders for their work, he said, "I'll be kissing their bums in the showers."[citation needed]
Beginning with the 2004–2005 season, Hudson began commentating forGolTV. He was a co-commentator for European league matches and a co-host ofAmerican Soccer until his final appearance on the show on 29 August 2007. During the 2006 World Cup, he was a co-host for the English-language segment of the nightlyGol TV En Alemania wrap-up show.[citation needed]
In 2012, Hudson joinedSirius XM Radio as lead commentator on SiriusXM FC 85, the service's soccer channel. Hudson hostsThe Football Show withCharlie Stillitano, Neil Barnett, and Phil Schoen, which airs weekdays at 7am Eastern Time. His listeners refer to him as 'Rocky' which was his nickname back in his playing days. He is the centerpiece ofHudson's Howlers, a monthly feature highlighting his most outrageous comments.[citation needed] That same year, he also joined the new networkBeIN Sports.[13]
Hudson's commentating style, which mimics fellowGeordie, famous darts commentatorSid Waddell, consists of metaphors and excited, romanticized descriptions (e.g., "magisteeerial") of players and goals, has both earned him praise and been described as "ludicrous."[14]
In March 2020, it was announced that Hudson would serve as color commentator forInter Miami CF ofMajor League Soccer.[15]
In September 2022, Hudson left BeIN Sports and joinedCBS Sports for its television coverage of theUEFA Champions League.[16][17]
In September 2025, Hudson announced toThe Athletic that he was retiring from football commentary.[18]
