# Alan Merrick

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alan_Merrick
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alan_Merrick.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merrick
> Source revision: 1351886972
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Alan Ronald Merrick** (born June 20, 1950) is a retired professional [soccer](/source/Association_football) player who played as a [defender](/source/Defender_(association_football)) in England, the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%931984)) and the [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/Major_Soccer_League). Born in England, and a former England youth international, he played for the [United States national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team).

## Club career

Merrick was born in [Selly Oak](/source/Selly_Oak), [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham), but grew up in North [Warwickshire](/source/Warwickshire), where he attended [Water Orton](/source/Water_Orton) Junior School and [Coleshill](/source/Coleshill,_Warwickshire) Grammar School.[1] He joined [West Bromwich Albion](/source/West_Bromwich_Albion_F.C.) in July 1966, turning professional in August 1967.[1] He made his senior debut in September 1968 in a [League Cup](/source/Football_League_Cup) tie against [Peterborough United](/source/Peterborough_United_F.C.) and in the same year won three England youth caps.[1] In 1975 the team loaned Merrick to second division club [Peterborough](/source/Peterborough_United_F.C.). At the end of the season, Merrick moved to the USA where he signed with the [Minnesota Kicks](/source/Minnesota_Kicks) of the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%931984)). Merrick remained with the Kicks through the 1979 season when he moved to the [Los Angeles Aztecs](/source/Los_Angeles_Aztecs). Merrick moved again at the end of the season, to the [San Jose Earthquakes](/source/San_Jose_Earthquakes) for the 1981 season. However, after twelve games, the Earthquakes traded Merrick to the [Minnesota Kicks](/source/Minnesota_Kicks). At the end of the 1981 season, the Kicks traded Merrick to the [Toronto Blizzard](/source/Toronto_Blizzard_(NASL)) for the 1982 season. In 1983, the [U.S. Soccer Federation](/source/U.S._Soccer_Federation), in coordination with the NASL, entered the [U.S. national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team), known as [Team America](/source/Team_America_(soccer)), into the NASL as a league franchise. The team drew on U.S. citizens playing in the NASL, [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/Major_Soccer_League) and [American Soccer League](/source/American_Soccer_League_(1933-1983)). Merrick left the Blizzard and signed with Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10–20 record, the worst in the NASL, USSF withdrew the team from the league.

## International career

In 1968, Merrick played three times for the [England national under-18 football team](/source/England_national_under-18_football_team) at the Junior World Cup Tournament in the South of France against Bulgaria, Russia and the Netherlands.

On April 8, 1983, Merrick earned one [cap](/source/Cap_(sports)) with the [U.S. national team](/source/United_States_Men's_National_Soccer_Team) in a 2–0 victory over [Haiti](/source/Haiti_national_football_team). He started the game, but subbed out for [Erhardt Kapp](/source/Erhardt_Kapp) in the second half.[2]

## Coaching career

In 1983, Merrick retired from playing and joined the coaching ranks with the [Minnesota Strikers](/source/Minnesota_Strikers). At the time, the Strikers played in the NASL, but after the collapse of the league in 1984, the Strikers moved to [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/Major_Soccer_League). Merrick continued to coach them through the 1987–1988 season. He is the head coach of the [University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota) men's club team. Additionally, he continues to train coaches and young players through his Minneapolis-based academy. In April 2012, Merrick was named head coach of the [Eagan High School](/source/Eagan_High_School) boys soccer team.[3]

## References

1. Matthews, Tony (2005). *The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion*. Breedon Books. p. 153. ISBN 1-85983-474-4.

1. [USA - Details of International Matches 1980-1989](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-intres-det80.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120909000829/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det80.html) 9 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine

1. ["Merrick named to coach Eagan boys soccer"](http://sunthisweek.com/2012/04/11/merrick-named-to-coach-eagan-boys-soccer/). 11 April 2012.

## External links

- [West Bromwich bio](https://web.archive.org/web/20070219211146/http://www.ynw62.dial.pipex.com/amerrick.htm)
- [NASL/MISL stats](https://nasljerseys.com/Players/M/Merrick.Alan.htm)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alan Merrick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merrick) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Merrick?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.