| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1962-11-26)26 November 1962 (age 62)[1][2] | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Liverpool | |||
| Everton | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Washington Diplomats | |||
| Washington Stars | |||
| Sydney Olympic | |||
| Chester City | |||
| 1994 | Washington Warthogs (indoor) | 6 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011–2012 | Northern Virginia Royals | ||
| 2013 | Livingston | ||
| 2019–2021 | Washington Spirit | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Richie Burke (born 26 November 1962) is an English former professional footballer and former manager ofWashington Spirit competing in theNational Women's Soccer League. He has extensive coaching experience in Scotland and the United States.[3]
Burke started his career withLiverpool andEverton at youth level.[4] After being released, he spent most of his professional playing career in the United States. Originally playing collegiate soccer at American University level, he then went on to play for theWashington Diplomats and theWashington Stars. He also enjoyed brief spells withChester City in England andSydney Olympic in Australia. Burke spent the later stages of his career playing indoor soccer withWashington Warthogs before retiring in 1994 following a career spanning 15 years.[5]
Burke began his coaching career in the US soccer camp business as an owner and operator of The Players Soccer Academy. He then went on to work with theUSSF in the Olympic Development Program. Burke was also employed as technical director and director of coaching at various regional powerhouse soccer clubs. He then enjoyed a successful stint atMLS clubD.C. United where he worked in several positions including first-team assistant coach (from 2001 to 2003 underRay Hudson), director of youth programs and USSF development academy head coach.[6] In his time with the academy programme he helped to secure a MLS Youth Cup Championship in 2007.[7] Burke's most recent coaching role in the US was with theNorthern Virginia Royals as head coach.[8] Burke had a history of accusations of abusive conduct during his time as a youth coach.[9][10]
In 2012, Burke moved back to the United Kingdom after securing a coaching position withScottish Football League First Division sideLivingston. In addition to this, he was also tasked with developing the clubs newly formed youth foundation.[11] Burke, who was originally appointed as technical coach of theWest Lothian club,[12] was promoted to assistant manager (toGareth Evans) following the departure ofJohn Hughes toHartlepool United in November 2012. After the dismissal of Gareth Evans as manager on 28 February 2013, Burke assumed the role of interim manager.[13] On 25 March 2013, he was appointed as the new permanent manager of Livingston on a contract running until the summer of 2015.[14] He left the club on 12 September, resigning for personal reasons after a slow start to the season.[15]
In January 2019, Burke was appointed head coach of theWashington Spirit in theNational Women's Soccer League taking over for interim manager, Tom Torres.[16]
In September 2021, Burke was fired following an investigation into allegations of harassment and abusive behavior towards players.[17][18]
After multiple investigations intopervasive abuse within the league, Burke was one of four coaches banned from the NWSL for life on 9 January 2023.[19]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Northern Virginia Royals |  | 2011 | 2012 | 33 | 15 | 5 | 13 | 045.45 |
| Livingston |  | March 2013 | September 2013 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 025.00 |
| Washington Spirit | | January 2019 | August 2021 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 037.50 |
Burke, 56, will apply his truths this year to something new for him: a women's pro team, the Washington Spirit.