Ray Hudson facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raymond Wilfred Hudson | ||
| Date of birth | 24 March 1955 | ||
| Place of birth | Gateshead, England | ||
| Position(s) | 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 | ? | (?) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2000–2001 | Miami Fusion | ||
| 2002–2004 | D.C. United | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Raymond Wilfred Hudson (born 24 March 1955) is an English former professional football player and manager. He now works as a radio host for SiriusXM FC 157. Ray started playing professionally at 17 in 1973 with Newcastle United. Fans gave him the nickname "Rocky." He played for Newcastle for four years before moving to the U.S. There, he played for various teams for about 15 years.
After his playing career, he became a coach. He was the head coach for the Miami Fusion in 2000. Later, he coached D.C. United from 2002 to 2004. Hudson then started a career in broadcasting, working as a commentator for TV and radio. In 2012, he joined Sirius XM Radio as a morning show host.
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Playing Football: Ray Hudson's Early Career
Hudson signed with Newcastle United in 1973 when he was 17. He joined from a local team called Whickham Juniors. He played 25 games for Newcastle, and fans called him "Rocky." After four years in the Football League First Division, Hudson moved to the United States.
Playing in the United States
From 1977 to 1983, Hudson played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. This team was part of the North American Soccer League (NASL). His former teammate at Newcastle, Paul Cannell, encouraged him to play in America. Cannell had played in the US and shared his experiences with Hudson.
In the winter of 1983–84, Hudson played in Germany for Union Solingen. He played 10 games there. Hudson also played for the Strikers after they moved to Minnesota in 1984. This was the last year for the NASL. During his eight years in the NASL, Hudson scored 44 goals in 197 matches. He also made 99 assists. He was chosen for five All-NASL teams, including once as a Best XI player in 1984.
Later Playing Years
After Minnesota, he played for Edmonton Brick Men. Then, he joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers again, who were in the American Soccer League. A knee injury caused the Strikers to release him. He then played one season (1990) for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 1991, he returned to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. By this time, the team was 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 between former NASL Strikers and Rowdies players.
Coaching Career: Leading Teams
After working as a community director and TV commentator for the Miami Fusion, Hudson became their head coach in the middle of the 2000 season. He finished that season with 11 wins, 1 draw, and 12 losses. In 2001, he led the club to the best regular season record in Major League Soccer (MLS). They won the MLS Supporters' Shield with 16 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses. However, the team lost in the semifinal playoffs to the San Jose Earthquakes.
Hudson became known for his strong personality. Once, after a Miami home win where the Fusion scored five goals, Hudson was still not happy. He walked into the media tent and said, "I've got nothing to say. Any questions? ANY QUESTIONS? No? OK!" and left. Players later said he was upset about a lack of effort, even though they won big.
Coaching D.C. United
After the Miami Fusion team was closed down by MLS, Hudson was hired to coach D.C. United. He took over on 8 January 2002. He continued to entertain fans and reporters with his humor and stories. In 2002, D.C. United finished last in their conference with 9 wins, 5 draws, and 14 losses. In 2003, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to Chicago Fire. Hudson was replaced by Piotr Nowak in 2004. His total record as an MLS head coach was 46 wins, 20 draws, and 44 losses.
Commentating: Ray Hudson's Voice of Football
In 2002, Hudson worked for ESPN's World Cup coverage. He made a memorable comment after the United States tied 1–1 with South Korea. He was talking about how U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel should thank his defenders.
Working for GolTV and SiriusXM
From the 2004–2005 season, Hudson started commentating for GolTV. He was a co-commentator for European league matches. He also co-hosted American Soccer until August 29, 2007. During the 2006 World Cup, he co-hosted the English part of the nightly Gol TV En Alemania show.
In 2012, Hudson joined Sirius XM Radio as a lead commentator on SiriusXM FC 85. He hosts The Football Show with Charlie Stillitano, Neil Barnett, and Phil Schoen. The show airs on weekdays. His listeners still call him 'Rocky.' He is also featured in Hudson's Howlers, which highlights his most exciting comments. In 2012, he also joined the new network BeIN Sports.
Hudson's commentating style is known for its metaphors and excited descriptions of players and goals. This style has made him both praised and sometimes joked about. In March 2020, it was announced that Hudson would be a commentator for Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer. In September 2022, Hudson left BeIN Sports and joined CBS Sports for their TV coverage of the UEFA Champions League.
