Ray Hudson facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raymond Wilfred Hudson | ||
| Date of birth | 24 March 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Gateshead, England | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1974–1977 | Newcastle United | 25 | (1) |
| 1975 | → Greenock Morton (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 1977 | → Fort Lauderdale Strikers (loan) | 25 | (4) |
| 1978–1983 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 151 | (38) |
| 1983–1984 | Union Solingen | 10 | (0) |
| 1984 | Minnesota Strikers | 21 | (2) |
| 1984–1988 | Minnesota Strikers (indoor) | 112 | (41) |
| 1987 | Edmonton Brick Men | 17 | (4) |
| 1988–1989 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | ? | (?) |
| 1990 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 13 | (2) |
| 1991 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | ? | (?) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2000–2001 | Miami Fusion | ||
| 2002–2004 | D.C. United | ||
|
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Raymond Wilfred Hudson (born March 24, 1955) is an English former professional football player and manager. He is now a radio host for SiriusXM FC 157.
Ray, often called "Rocky" by fans, started his football journey at age 17 in 1973. He played for Newcastle United for four years. After that, he moved to the United States. He played for various teams there for about 15 years.
After his playing career, Ray became a coach. He coached the Miami Fusion in 2000. Later, he became the head coach for D.C. United in 2002. He left coaching in 2004.
Ray then started a new career in broadcasting. He became a commentator for TV and radio. In 2012, he joined Sirius XM Radio. He hosts The Football Show on SiriusXM FC 157.
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Ray Hudson's Football Journey
Ray Hudson began his professional football career in 1973. He was 17 years old when he signed with Newcastle United. He had previously played for a local team called Whickham Juniors.
Playing for Newcastle United
Ray played in 25 matches for Newcastle United. Fans gave him the nickname "Rocky" during his time there. He spent four years playing in the Football League First Division in England.
Moving to the United States
In 1977, Ray moved to the United States. He joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. This team was part of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He played for the Strikers until 1983.
Ray was very interested in playing football in the U.S. He had heard about it from another player, Cannell. Cannell had played in the U.S. and told Ray about his experiences. Ray was known as a top player, even among many world-class players in the NASL.
Later Playing Years
In the winter of 1983–84, Ray played in Germany. He made 10 appearances for Union Solingen. After that, he returned to the U.S. and played for the Minnesota Strikers in 1984. This was the last year for the NASL.
Over eight years in the NASL, Ray scored 44 goals. He played in 197 matches and made 99 assists. He was chosen for the All-NASL team five times. In 1984, he was even named to the Best XI team.
Ray then played for the Edmonton Brick Men. After that, he joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers again. This time, the team was in the American Soccer League. A knee injury caused the Strikers to release him.
He played one season (1990) for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 1991, he returned to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The team was then playing in the American Professional Soccer League. He was released again after the team had a tough start to the season. In 1992, he injured his other knee during a reunion match.
Ray Hudson's Coaching Career
After his playing days, Ray Hudson started coaching. He first worked for the Miami Fusion. He was their community outreach director and a TV commentator.
Coaching the Miami Fusion
In the middle of the 2000 season, Ray became the head coach for the Miami Fusion. He led the team to a good record that season. In 2001, he guided the club to the best regular season record in Major League Soccer. They won the MLS Supporters' Shield. However, the team lost in the playoff semifinals to the San Jose Earthquakes.
Ray became known for his strong personality as a coach. He was very passionate about the game.
Coaching D.C. United
After the Miami Fusion team closed, Ray was hired by D.C. United. He became their head coach on January 8, 2002. He continued to entertain fans and reporters with his humor.
In 2002, D.C. United finished at the bottom of their division. In 2003, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Chicago Fire. Ray was replaced as coach in 2004. Overall, Ray's record as an MLS head coach was 46 wins, 20 draws, and 44 losses.
Ray Hudson as a Commentator
After coaching, Ray Hudson started a new career as a football commentator. He shares his knowledge and passion for the game with viewers and listeners.
Working for ESPN and GolTV
In 2002, he worked for ESPN during their World Cup coverage. He then began commentating for GolTV in the 2004–2005 season. He was a co-commentator for European league matches. He also co-hosted a show called American Soccer. During the 2006 World Cup, he helped host Gol TV En Alemania.
Joining SiriusXM and BeIN Sports
In 2012, Ray joined Sirius XM Radio. He became a lead commentator on SiriusXM FC 85, a channel dedicated to soccer. He hosts The Football Show with Charlie Stillitano, Neil Barnett, and Phil Schoen. The show airs on weekdays. His listeners still call him 'Rocky'. SiriusXM also has a monthly feature called Hudson's Howlers, which highlights his most exciting comments. In the same year, he also joined the new network BeIN Sports.
Ray's commentating style is very energetic and descriptive. He uses many metaphors and exciting words to describe players and goals. This style has made him popular with many fans.
Recent Commentating Roles
In March 2020, it was announced that Ray Hudson would be a commentator for Inter Miami CF. This team is part of Major League Soccer. In September 2022, Ray left BeIN Sports. He joined CBS Sports to commentate on the UEFA Champions League matches.
