Willy Roy

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox football biography Willy Roy (born February 8, 1943) is a retired American soccer forward and coach. He played for several teams in the National Professional Soccer League and the North American Soccer League in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the United States national team from 1965 to 1973. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Early years

When Roy was six, his family moved to the United States from Germany, settling in Chicago. After attending Reavis High School and winning the 1961 IHSA Wrestling Team State Championship and individual 145 lb State Championship in what is now Burbank, Illinois, he began playing semi-pro soccer in the Chicago area. In 1964, he joined Hansa of the National Soccer League of Chicago. In 1966, Hansa won the Peter J. Peel Challenge Cup as the Illinois State Champion. The year prior, the team lost to the New York Ukrainians in the National Challenge Cup.

Professional career

The year 1966 saw a series of events that had a major impact on Roy's future career. Three separate groups decided to form a professional league in the U.S. Through various negotiations, two of the groups merged to form the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). While the USSF and FIFA refused to recognize the NPSL, it gained a television contract with CBS, thereby guaranteeing some element of financial stability.

Up to this point, Roy played almost exclusively with local Chicago minor league teams and the U.S. national team.

Once again, external soccer events impacted Roy's career. The NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association in December 1967 to form the North American Soccer League. That year, the Spurs also moved to Kansas City. Roy moved with the team and spent one season there. Roy experienced a sophomore slump in 1968, playing 15 games, scoring 6 goals and assisting on 4 others. However, the team played well, losing to the Atlanta Chiefs in the playoff semifinals.

Roy moved on to the Saint Louis Stars (NASL) in 1971. In his three seasons with the Stars, he scored 18 goals and assisted on 16 others. In 1972, the team made it to the NASL final, losing to the New York Cosmos 2–1.

After retiring from the national team, Roy continued to play professionally for a few more years. In 1975, he moved to his last team, the expansion Chicago Sting. He would play a single season with the Sting, statistically the worst of his career. He scored no goals and made 3 assists in 14 games. He retired from playing at the end of the season.

U.S. national team

In 1965, Roy made his debut with the United States national team in a 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Mexico in Mexico City, a 2-0 loss. He earned his second cap nine days later in a tie with Honduras which ended the U.S. attempt to qualify for the 1966 World Cup.

Roy enjoyed relative success with the national team in 1968. He played eight games, scoring six goals. In those eight games, the national team went 4–3–1. More significantly, four of those games were qualifying matches for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. In those three games, the U.S. went 3–1 with Roy scoring 3 goals. The next year, he played only a single game with the national team, a 2–0 loss to Haiti. That game, combined with a second loss to Haiti a month later spelled the end to yet another U.S. attempt to qualify for a World Cup. Roy would not play for the national team again until it began playing qualification games for the 1974 World Cup.

In 1972, Roy played four games with the national team, all 1974 World Cup qualifying matches. The U.S. went 0–3–1, failing to reach yet another World Cup. Despite the team's dismal showing, Roy scored in three consecutive games, giving him a record six goals in World Cup qualifying matches. The next player to score in three consecutive matches did not come until Cobi Jones did it in 2000. Roy's record of six goals in world cup qualifying matches lasted until Earnie Stewart scored his seventh qualifying goal in 2001.

Roy played five more games with the national team, all in 1973. That year, he scored once, ending his national team career with 20 games and 10 goals, one of the best scoring rates by any national team member over a sustained career.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	September 15, 1968	New York, New York	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Israel	flag alias = Flag of Israel.svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of Israel (1948).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Israel.svg	flag alias-police = Flag of Israel Police V2.svg	flag alias-HFC = Flag of IDF Home Front Command.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Israeli Army (Land Arm) Gray.svg	link alias-army = Israeli Ground Forces	flag alias-tsahal = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg	flag alias-marines = Flag givati.svg	link alias-marines = Givati Brigade	flag alias-military = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg	link alias-military = Israel Defense Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg	link alias-naval = Israeli Navy	flag alias-air force = Israel Air Force Flag.svg	link alias-air force = Israeli Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg	link alias-navy = Israeli Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 1–2 || 3–3 || Friendly
2	October 13, 1968	Toronto, Canada	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Canada	flag alias = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-1867-official = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1868 = Canadian Red Ensign (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-1905 = Canadian Red Ensign (1905–1922).svg	flag alias-1907 = Canadian Red Ensign (1907–1921).png	flag alias-1921 = Canadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-1957 = Canadian Red Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Canada (1964).svg	flag alias-1965 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2000).png	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2004).gif	flag alias-armed forces = Canadian Forces Flag.svg	link alias-armed forces = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Canadian Navy	flag alias-naval-1868 = Blue Ensign of Canada (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-naval-1911 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-naval-1921 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-naval-1957 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-coast guard = Coastguard Flag of Canada.svg	link alias-coast guard = Canadian Coast Guard	flag alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg	flag alias-air force-1924 = Ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force	flag alias-army-1939 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1939–1944).svg	flag alias-army-1968 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-1989 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-2013 = Flag of the Canadian Army (2013–2016).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Canadian Army.svg	link alias-army = Canadian Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the Canadian Forces.svg	link alias-military = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Canadian Navy	link alias-football = Canada men's national soccer team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || 1–0 || 2–4 || 1970 World Cup Qualifying
3	October 20, 1968	Port-au-Prince, Haiti	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Haiti	flag alias = Flag of Haiti.svg	flag alias-1791 = Flag of Haiti (1791-1789).svg	flag alias-1798 = Flag of France (1794-1815).svg	flag alias-1803 = Flag of Haiti (1803-1804).svg	flag alias-1806 = Flag of Haiti (1806-1811).svg	flag alias-1811 = Flag of Haiti (1811–1814).png	flag alias-1814 = Flag of Haiti (1814–1820).svg	flag alias-1849 = Flag of Haiti (1849-1859).png	flag alias-1859 = Flag of Haiti (1820–1849, 1859–1964).svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Haiti (1964–1986).svg	flag alias-2013 = Flag of Haiti (WFB 2013).gif	flag alias-civil = Flag of Haiti (civil).svg	flag alias-civil-1964 = Flag of Haiti 1964 (civil).svg	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of Haiti (1859–1964, 3-2).svg	link alias-coast guard = Haitian Coast Guard	link alias-army = Haitian Army	link alias-military = Armed Forces of Haiti	Haitian Navy	link alias-air force = Haitian Aviation Corps	Haitian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = 1964 }} || ? || 6–3 || Friendly
4	November 2, 1968	Kansas City, Missouri	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Bermuda	flag alias = Flag of Bermuda.svg	flag alias-1875 = Flag of Bermuda (1875–1910).svg	flag alias-1910 = Flag of Bermuda 1910.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 4–2 || 6–2 || 1970 World Cup Qualifying
5	November 10, 1968	Hamilton, Bermuda	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Bermuda	flag alias = Flag of Bermuda.svg	flag alias-1875 = Flag of Bermuda (1875–1910).svg	flag alias-1910 = Flag of Bermuda 1910.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 2–0 || 2–0 || 1970 World Cup Qualifying
6	August 20, 1972	St. John's, Canada	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Canada	flag alias = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-1867-official = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1868 = Canadian Red Ensign (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-1905 = Canadian Red Ensign (1905–1922).svg	flag alias-1907 = Canadian Red Ensign (1907–1921).png	flag alias-1921 = Canadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-1957 = Canadian Red Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Canada (1964).svg	flag alias-1965 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2000).png	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2004).gif	flag alias-armed forces = Canadian Forces Flag.svg	link alias-armed forces = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Canadian Navy	flag alias-naval-1868 = Blue Ensign of Canada (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-naval-1911 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-naval-1921 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-naval-1957 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-coast guard = Coastguard Flag of Canada.svg	link alias-coast guard = Canadian Coast Guard	flag alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg	flag alias-air force-1924 = Ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force	flag alias-army-1939 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1939–1944).svg	flag alias-army-1968 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-1989 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-2013 = Flag of the Canadian Army (2013–2016).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Canadian Army.svg	link alias-army = Canadian Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the Canadian Forces.svg	link alias-military = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Canadian Navy	link alias-football = Canada men's national soccer team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || 1–3 || 2–3 || 1974 World Cup Qualifying
7	August 29, 1972	Baltimore, Maryland	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Canada	flag alias = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-1867-official = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1868 = Canadian Red Ensign (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-1905 = Canadian Red Ensign (1905–1922).svg	flag alias-1907 = Canadian Red Ensign (1907–1921).png	flag alias-1921 = Canadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-1957 = Canadian Red Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Canada (1964).svg	flag alias-1965 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2000).png	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2004).gif	flag alias-armed forces = Canadian Forces Flag.svg	link alias-armed forces = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Canadian Navy	flag alias-naval-1868 = Blue Ensign of Canada (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-naval-1911 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-naval-1921 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-naval-1957 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-coast guard = Coastguard Flag of Canada.svg	link alias-coast guard = Canadian Coast Guard	flag alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg	flag alias-air force-1924 = Ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force	flag alias-army-1939 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1939–1944).svg	flag alias-army-1968 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-1989 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-2013 = Flag of the Canadian Army (2013–2016).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Canadian Army.svg	link alias-army = Canadian Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the Canadian Forces.svg	link alias-military = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Canadian Navy	link alias-football = Canada men's national soccer team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} || 1–1 || 2–2 || 1974 World Cup Qualifying
8	September 3, 1972	Mexico City, Mexico	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Mexico	flag alias = Flag of Mexico.svg	flag alias-1821a = Flag of the Three Guarantees.svg	flag alias-1821 = Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg	flag alias-1823 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg	flag alias-1864 = Imperial Standard of Mexico (1864-1867).svg	flag alias-1867 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg	flag alias-1893 = Flag of Mexico (1893-1916).svg	flag alias-1916 = Flag of Mexico (1916–1934).svg	flag alias-1934 = Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Mexican Air Force.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Mexican Army.svg	link alias-army = Mexican Army	link alias-air force = Mexican Air Force	link alias-naval = Mexican Navy	flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue.png	link alias-coast guard = Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue	flag alias-navy = Naval jack of Mexico.svg	link alias-navy = Mexican Navy	flag alias-marines = Estandarte Infantería de Marina de México.svg	link alias-marines = Mexican Naval Infantry Corps	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 1–3 || 1–3 || 1974 World Cup Qualifying
9	November 13, 1973	Tel-Aviv, Israel	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Israel	flag alias = Flag of Israel.svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of Israel (1948).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Israel.svg	flag alias-police = Flag of Israel Police V2.svg	flag alias-HFC = Flag of IDF Home Front Command.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Israeli Army (Land Arm) Gray.svg	link alias-army = Israeli Ground Forces	flag alias-tsahal = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg	flag alias-marines = Flag givati.svg	link alias-marines = Givati Brigade	flag alias-military = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg	link alias-military = Israel Defense Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg	link alias-naval = Israeli Navy	flag alias-air force = Israel Air Force Flag.svg	link alias-air force = Israeli Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg	link alias-navy = Israeli Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 1–1 || 1–3 || Friendly

Coaching career

In 1976, upon retiring from playing, Roy became an assistant coach for Chicago Sting. He spent two seasons in this position, before moving up to head coach in 1979. In 1981, Roy coached the Sting to a 23–9 record and a victory in the Soccer Bowl (the NASL championship game) and earned himself NASL Coach of the Year honors. The summer of 1984 saw Roy coach the Sting to its second NASL outdoor title. This would also be the last NASL championship as the league folded the following Spring.

The Major Indoor Soccer League had commenced operations in 1978, and it proved its success in its first two years of operation as it gained teams and the NASL lost teams to financial failure. The NASL attempted to piggyback on the MISL success, by playing an indoor season beginning in the winter of 1979–1980, following its 1979 outdoor season. Roy's Sting did not do well in that first season indoors, but things improved drastically during the 1980–1981 indoor season. He guided them to a division title, the league's best regular-season record, and into the finals, where they lost to the Edmonton Drillers, two games to none. The following season (1981–82) saw another division title, but this time they made an early exit from the playoffs. The NASL did not hold a full indoor season in 1982–83, so the Sting played that winter in the MISL where it finished third in the Eastern Division. Roy got the Sting on track during the 1983–84 indoor season, back again in the NASL. They finished second in the standings and lost to the New York Cosmos (1971–1985) in the playoff semifinals. With the demise of the NASL, the Sting became a full-time member of the MISL.

Roy coached the Sting for two more seasons. The team lost to the Cleveland Force in the 1985 quarterfinals but missed the playoffs in 1986, finishing with a 23–25 record. A 2–8 start the following campaign led to Roy being replaced by Erich Geyer on December 23, 1986.

During his time with the Sting, Roy did more than win two championships. He had an impact that went beyond the team when he coached the former Dutch National Team Head Coach Dick Advocaat and United States women's national soccer team Greg Ryan. Ryan later credited Roy with being a strong influence on his development as a player and coach. Ryan said, "The thing that defined Willy was, he was one of the most intense competitors as a player and that carried over to his coaching. He was so intense and so determined that he brought that quality out in his players. If he mentioned people who went on to bigger and better things, it was because they learned to work so hard and give so much."

Roy was named the men's soccer head coach at Northern Illinois University on August 12, 1987. In 1990, the Huskies had the Mid-Continent Conference's best record and Roy was selected as the Mid-Con's Coach of the Year.

The school announced on February 18, 2003, that it was not renewing Roy's contract after the Huskies had three consecutive losing seasons. He finished with a 142–131–22 coaching record and two conference championships. During his time with the team, it was known for the high academic standards Roy set for his players. Although his last season with the team saw a dismal 4–13–1, the Huskies ranked in the Division-I Academic top 20.

Later years

In 1989, Roy was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

He currently owns and helps his family run the Willy Roy Soccer Dome, an indoor soccer arena in Chicago, Now in his eighties, he continues to support the many players and leagues at the Soccer Dome.

In 1979, he wrote the book Coaching Winning Soccer.

Honors

Player

• NASL Champion: 1972 (runner-up)
• Division Title: 1968, 1972

Manager

• NASL Champion: 1981, 1984
• NASL premiership: 1984
• Division Title: 1980, 1981, 1984
• NASL Champion indoor: 1980–81 (runner-up)
• NASL premiership indoor: 1980–81
• Indoor Division Title: 1980–81, 1981–82

Individual

• Rookie of the Year: 1967
• First Team All-Star: 1967
• Coach of the Year: 1981
• National Soccer Hall of Fame: 1989