Eric Williams (football coach)

Eric Williams
Personal information
Place of birth Kent, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Canterbury City F.C.[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Canterbury City F.C.
1980 Newcastle KB United[1]
1981 Po Chai Pills[1]
International career
England U18[1] 3
Managerial career
1988-1990 North Perth Croatia
1992-1993 Spearwood Dalmatinac
1993-1995 Floreat Athena
1994-1997 Western Australia State Team
Stirling Lions
1999-2000 Swan I.C.
2004–2005 Sriwijaya
2007–2008 Perseman Manokwari[2]
2008 PSMS Medan
2010–2012 Yangon United
2014–2015 Yangon United
2015 Myanmar U16[3]
2016–2017 Melaka United F.C.
2020 Swan I.C.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Eric Williams is an English football manager.

Coaching career

Coaching career

Starting his coaching career in Western Australia to augment his income, he managed North Perth Croatia, Spearwood Dalmatinac and Floreat Athena. Between 1994 and 1997 he led the Western Australia State Team to historic victories over English clubs West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. He then coached at Stirling Lions and Swan I.C. before moving to Indonesia.[1]

His first involvement in Myanmar was when he was invited to build the basic structure of a football academy right next to the Yangon United training site.[1] The Kent native was first named coach of MNL title contenders Yangon United in 2010. At first, his appointment date coincided with his second marriage in Indonesia so he had to return later.[1]

Williams was commissioned to fill in the vacancy left by previous Melaka United coach Mat Zan Mat Aris in November 2016[4][5] and won his first game 1–0 over PKNS FC.[6]

Other

Just after moving to Indonesia in 2002, he developed a national under-17s youth program.[1]

Williams was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame Western Australia in recognition of his achievements as the head coach of the Western Australia State Team.[1][7]

He is helping the Rhys Williams Foundation which supports children in Indonesia to play football.[1]

Personal life

The coach has three sons, Rhys, Ryan and Aryn,[8] who were born in Australia and are all professional footballers. Williams offered his eldest son Rhys (who plays for Middlesbrough FC in the Premier League) a contract in the Malaysian Super League but it was promptly declined by Perth Glory.[9] Incidentally, he is adept at speaking Bahasa Melayu, the Malaysian language.[citation needed]\

Achievements

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j From the Gold Coast to the Golden Land Myanmar Times.
  2. ^ Kalahkan Perseman, Persijap ke Puncak Klasemen Wilayah Dua Antaranews.com.
  3. ^ Myanmar U16s start new campaign with new coach Myanmar Times.
  4. ^ "(Football) Expectations high for new Malacca Utd coach Eric Williams | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News". New Straits Times. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Eric Williams is new Malacca United coach | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News". New Straits Times. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Williams praises boys after their first win in 2017". goal.com. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Football Hall of Fame, Western Australia : Hall of Recognition". members.iinet.net.au. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  8. ^ Williams follows in father's footsteps Archived 23 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Football West.
  9. ^ "Rhys Williams prepares for A-League final as father battles in Malaysia – ESPN FC". espnfc.com. Retrieved 11 July 2017.