Alan Willey (footballer, born 1956)

Alan Willey (born 18 October 1956) is an English former footballer who spent most of his playing career in the United States. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.[1]

Alan Willey
Personal information
Date of birth (1956-10-18) 18 October 1956
Place of birth Houghton-le-Spring, England
Position(s) 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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Born in Houghton-le-Spring, Willey is the second-leading goal scorer in the history of the North American Soccer League (NASL).[2] Willey played most of his career with the Minnesota Kicks and was inducted to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.

He began his career with English football club, Middlesbrough in 1974.[3] In the NASL he played for the Minnesota Kicks (1976 to 1981), the Montreal Manic (1981 to 1983) and the Minnesota 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 the New York Cosmos in 1978. His nickname was 'The Artful Dodger'.[5]

References
  1. "Player Bios". U.S. Soccer. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  2. Matthew Levine (30 July 2015). "THROWBACK THURSDAY Minnesota Kicks' Alan Willey Scores Five Goals Against Cosmos In Playoff Match". NASL. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  3. Mark Wheat (11 June 2015). "Mark Wheat interviews Alan Willey". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  4. Plenderleith, Ian (22 September 2015). Rock 'n' Roll Soccer. New York: Thomas Dunne Books. p. 153. ISBN 9781466884007.
  5. Jon Marthaler (13 June 2015). "United FC to salute Alan Willey, the 'Artful Dodger'". Star Tribune. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
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