About this speaker
Richie Burke is a former professional footballer and current manager of the Washington Spirit competing in the National Women’s Soccer League. He has extensive coaching experience in Scotland and the United States.
Burke started his career with Liverpool and Everton at youth level. 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 the Washington Diplomats and the Washington Stars. He also enjoyed brief spells with Chester City in England and Sydney Olympic in Australia. Burke spent the later stages of his career playing indoor soccer with Washington Warthogs before retiring in 1994 following a career spanning 15 years.
Burke began his coaching career in the US soccer camp business as an owner and operator of The Players Soccer Academy. He then went onto work with the USSF 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 at MLS club D.C. United where he worked in several positions including the first-team assistant coach (from 2001-2003 under Ray Hudson), director of youth programs and USSF development academy head coach. In his time with the academy programmer, he helped to secure an MLS Youth Cup Championship in 2007. Burke's most recent coaching role in the US was with the Northern Virginia Royals as head coach. Now Richie coaches at FC Virginia coaching the boy's side of the youth program.
In January 2019, Burke was appointed head coach of the Washington Spirit in the National Women’s Soccer League.