Alan Willey
Encyclopedia
Alan Willey was a soccer player originally from England who spent most of his playing career in the United States. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
The second-leading goal scorer in the history of the NASL (North American Soccer League
), Alan played most of his career with the Minnesota Kicks
and was inducted to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 2003.
Willey began his career with English football club, Middlesbrough
in 1974. 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 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'.
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
The second-leading goal scorer in the history of the NASL (North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
), Alan played most of his career with the Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks
Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...
and was inducted to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 2003.
Willey began his career with English football club, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in 1974. In the NASL he played for the Minnesota Kicks (1976 to 1981), the Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic were a soccer team based out of Montreal that played in the NASL. They played from 1981 to 1983. Their home field was Olympic Stadium...
(1981 to 1983) and the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
(1984).
He finished his NASL career with 129 goals in 238 games 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
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
in 1978. His nickname was 'The Artful Dodger'.