Paul Riley, born September 23, 1963, is a former English football manager. One of the leading coaches in US women’s soccer, British-born Riley was fired from his job after sexual abuse allegations were levelled against him by two former players.
Riley, who grew up in Liverpool, guided North Carolina Courage to two NWSL championships. After the claims were made, his coaching license was cancelled by US Soccer.
The 58-year-old spent the entirety of his career in the US, where he played collegiately at Adelphi University on New York’s Long Island. There, he is featured in the Hall of Fame.
After his university days, he professionaly played for a string of teams that included the Long Island Rough Riders, the New Jersey Eagles and the Albany Capitals.
As a player, he won the NEPSL championship twice. He was also named the league MVP in 1991.
From 1986 to 1997, he coached at CW Post University. He followed it up with various coaching stints, including the Long Island Fury.
The 58-year-old was named the new head coach of the NWSL’s Portland Thorns. However, he was sacked just after one season after Meleana Shim made allegations against him to the team’s owner and general manager.
He was then announced as the head coach of the North Carolina Courage. The Portland Thorns, in a statement, said that the 2015 investigation unearthed “clear violations of our company policies,” but not “unlawful activity”.
Discrediting the claims, Riley dubbed them as “completely untrue”.
“I have never had sex with, or made sexual advances towards these players,” he told The Athletic.
He did mention that he has socialised with his players and paid their bar tabs, occasionally. ”But I do not take them out drinking,” he maintained.
Since August, Riley is the third male NWSL head coach who was fired. He followed Richie Burke (by the Washington Spirit) and Christy Holly (by Racing Louisville).
Honours:
Manager
Long Island Rough Riders
USISL D-3 Pro League: 2002
Western New York Flash
National Women’s Soccer League: 2016
North Carolina Courage
National Women’s Soccer League: 2018, 2019
NWSL Shield: 2017, 2018, 2019
Individual
WPS Coach of the Year: 2011
NWSL Coach of the Year: 2017, 2018
