Kelly Ann Lindsey (born September 3, 1979) is an American soccer coach and former defender who played for the United States women's national soccer team and the San Jose CyberRays of Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA).

Kelly Lindsey
Personal information
Full name Kelly Ann Lindsey[1]
Date of birth (1979-09-03) September 3, 1979 (age 44)
Place of birth Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 91 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 San Jose CyberRays 47 (0)
Total 47 (0)
International career
2000–2002 United States 4 (0)
Managerial career
2003 Colorado Buffaloes (assistant)
2004–2005 Texas Longhorns (assistant)
2006–2008 Saint Mary's Gaels
2009 Sky Blue FC
2016–2020 Afghanistan
2020–2021 Morocco (coach and director)
2021–2023 Lewes F.C.
2023– Al-Ittihad
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

College edit

Lindsey attended and played college soccer for the University of Notre Dame. A tough defender with the Fighting Irish, Lindsey backstopped the team to a runners-up finish in the 1999 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship.[2]

Club edit

From 2001 to 2003, Lindsey played for the San Jose CyberRays of the professional Women's United Soccer Association. She was the number one pick in the 2001 WUSA supplemental draft.[3] In 2001 the CyberRays won the championship game, beating Atlanta Beat on a penalty shootout.[4] Soccer America magazine named Lindsey the 2001 Rookie of the Year.[5]

After the 2003 season, Lindsey reluctantly retired from professional soccer at the age of 23, due to persistent knee injuries.[6]

International edit

Lindsey's first appearance on the United States women's national soccer team was on January 7, 2000, in an 8–1 win over Czech Republic in Melbourne, Australia.[7][8] She collected a total of four caps over the following two years,[9] but was not included in the US squads for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, or the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Managing career edit

In 2003, Lindsey coached the University of Colorado to their first ever NCAA tournament selection. Then she trained the University of Texas and Saint Mary's (2006–2008). In 2009, she took the lead of Sky Blue FC, part of the newly formed Women's Professional Soccer League after Head Coach Ian Sawyers was terminated. Lindsay resigned with two weeks left in the regular season without explanation and Sky Blue FC went on to win the Championship.

Lindsey has also coached the USA U21 women's team as well as on the USA U14 national development program.[10]

In 2016, she took the role of Head Coach for the Afghanistan women's national football team.[10]

In February 2019, she was appointed as CONIFA's first ever director of women's football.[10]

In 2020, she was named as the Royal Moroccan Football Federation women's football director and head coach of the Morocco women's national football team.[11] She also worked as director for the national team with the hiring of coach Reynald Pedros.[12]

Lindsey later became the head coach of Lewes F.C. for two years,[13] before joining Saudi Women's Premier League club Al-Ittihad in July 2023.[14]

Personal life edit

Lindsey was nicknamed Boof by players and supporters, owing to her hairstyle.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Kelly Lindsey". Women's United Soccer Association. Archived from the original on October 24, 2003. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b LaFleur, Pete (November 25, 2000). "Lindsey Displays Heart Of A Champion". University of Notre Dame. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  3. ^ "WUSA: CyberRays draft Lindsey with No. 1 pick". Soccer America. February 5, 2001. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "Milbrett Tops List of WUSA Post-Season Honorees". United States Soccer Federation. August 23, 2001. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  5. ^ French, Scott (August 27, 2001). "Best of the WUSA". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Caparaz, Dean (August 11, 2003). "Tish and Boof Hang Up Their Cleats". Women's United Soccer Association. Archived from the original on September 2, 2003. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  7. ^ "Kelly Lindsey". Soccer Times. August 23, 2001. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  8. ^ Litterer, Dave (June 16, 2011). "USA – Women – International Results". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  9. ^ "U.S. Women's National Team All-Time Player Appearances". United States Soccer Federation. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c Wheelock, Noah. "Kelly Lindsey Appointed as CONIFA's First Ever Director of Women's Football". CONIFA. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "Morocco signs convention to uplift women's football". Confederation of African Football. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "World Cup Group H Preview: Why can't there be more like Morocco?". deadspin.com. July 19, 2023.
  13. ^ "Lindsey to depart Lewes". Lewes F.C. June 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "Kelly Lindsey Joins Ittihad as Head Coach". jobs4football.com. July 14, 2023.

External links edit