For the American football player, see Lewis Neal (American football).
Lewis Neal
FullnameLewis Ryan Neal
Birth date14 July 1981 (age 45)
Birth placeLeicester, England
Height1.80 m[1]
PositionMidfielder
Youthyears 11998–2000
Youthclubs 1Stoke City
Years 12000–2005
Clubs 1Stoke City
Caps 170
Goals 12
Years 22001
Clubs 2→ ÍBV (loan)
Caps 25
Goals 21
Years 32005–2009
Clubs 3Preston North End
Caps 365
Goals 35
Years 42008
Clubs 4→ Notts County (loan)
Caps 44
Goals 40
Years 52009
Clubs 5Carlisle United
Caps 516
Goals 52
Years 62009–2011
Clubs 6Shrewsbury Town
Caps 631
Goals 62
Years 72011
Clubs 7Orlando City
Caps 721
Goals 74
Years 82012–2014
Clubs 8D.C. United
Caps 853
Goals 82
Years 92015
Clubs 9Orlando City
Caps 921
Goals 90
Years 102016–2017
Clubs 10Orlando City B
Caps 1049
Goals 105
Years 112018–2019
Clubs 11Orlando SeaWolves (indoor)
Caps 1118
Goals 114
Manageryears 12021–2022
Managerclubs 1Central Florida Panthers (assistant)
Manageryears 22022–2023
Managerclubs 2Miami FC (assistant)
Manageryears 32023
Managerclubs 3Miami FC (interim)

Lewis Ryan Neal (born 14 July 1981) is an English former professional footballer.

Career

Neal started his career at Stoke City, making his debut in the Football League Trophy on 6 December 2000 against Scarborough. He went on loan to Icelandic side Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja before returning to Stoke. He played 70 league games and scored 2 goals for Stoke before signing for Preston North End in 2005 in a player swap deal for Marlon Broomes.

On 31 October 2008, Neal signed a month-long loan deal with Notts County,[2] and made his debut at home to Bury.

After playing 65 league games for Preston, Neal was allowed to join Carlisle United on 30 January 2009, after agreeing to a termination package. He signed a contract to the end of the season.[3] He made his Carlisle debut in the 1–1 home draw against Walsall, but at the end of the season manager Greg Abbott decided to release him.

A day after his contract expired with Carlisle on 2 July 2009, Neal signed a two-year contract with League Two club Shrewsbury Town.[4]

On 22 January 2011, he was released by Shrewsbury Town, by mutual consent. He moved to the United States and entered training camp with Orlando City Soccer Club of the USL Pro league, the third tier of US Soccer. He scored the team's first ever goal on 19 February in a friendly against Philadelphia Union.[5] Lewis signed with Orlando on 21 March 2011.[6]

In early 2012, Neal was on trial with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer but was not offered a contract.[7] He signed into the league with D.C. United on 13 March 2012.[8] During his time with D.C., he scored the lone goal in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup final against Real Salt Lake, giving D.C. their third Open Cup title.[9]

After three years with D.C., Neal returned to Florida when he was selected by new franchise Orlando City SC in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. He was released by Orlando at the end of the 2015 season.[10] On 17 December, Orlando City confirmed that Neal had been resigned on a two-year deal giving him an extended role with the organization including an academy coaching role, a playing position on the Orlando City B team and media duties.[11]

Neal continued his professional career by signing with the Orlando SeaWolves in May 2018, ahead of their inaugural Major Arena Soccer League season.[12]

In March 2021, Neal rejoined former SeaWolves coach Tom Traxler by joining the coaching staff of Central Florida Panthers SC of the National Premier Soccer League[13]

In June 2023, Anthony Pulis left his position as head coach of USL Championship side Miami FC, and Neal took over as interim head coach.[14] Neal left the club following the 2023 season.[15]

Personal life

Neal earned his US green card in February 2013.[16] This status qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.

Career statistics

[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City2000–01Second Division1000002030
2001–02Second Division110200011141
2002–03First Division1603000–190
2003–04First Division1911020–221
2004–05Championship2310010–241
Total702603031823
ÍBV (loan)2001Úrvalsdeild510000–51
Preston North End2005–06Championship2424010–292
2006–07Championship2412000–261
2007–08Championship1721000–182
Total706701000786
Notts County (loan)2008–09League Two4020000060
Carlisle United2008–09League One161000000161
Shrewsbury Town2009–10League Two292100010312
2010–11League Two2000102050
Total513301030583
Orlando City2011USL Pro214100000224
D.C. United2012Major League Soccer222200000242
2013Major League Soccer90100031121
2014Major League Soccer270100030310
Total796500061907
Orlando City2015Major League Soccer210110000221
Orlando City B2016USL Championship252000000252
2017USL Championship243000000253
Orlando SeaWolves2018Major Arena Soccer League154000000154
2019Major Arena Soccer League2000000020
Career Total357272215012239629
A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy and CONCACAF Champions League.

Honours

Orlando City
D.C. United

References

  1. ^ "Neal, Lewis Ryan Neal - Footballer | BDFutbol". www.bdfutbol.com. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
  2. ^ "Magpies swoop for Neal loan deal". BBC Sport. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Winger Neal makes Carlisle switch". BBC Sport. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  4. ^ "Shrewsbury complete Neal signing". BBC Sport. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  5. ^ Orlando City Soccer Club: News Archived 23 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Orlandocitysoccer.com.
  6. ^ Orlando City Signs English Championship Veteran – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News. OurSports Central (21 March 2011).
  7. ^ Team Building Exercises With Garth Lagerway Archived 4 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Theshinguardian.com.
  8. ^ "Lewis Neal acquired". DC United
  9. ^ "D.C. United wins 2013 U.S. Open Cup, 13th major title". October 2, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  10. ^ Orlando Sentinel (25 November 2015). "Orlando City parts ways with goalkeeper Tally Hall". OrlandoSentinel.com
  11. ^ "Lewis Neal Re-Joins Orlando City Family in Extended Role". Orlando City Soccer Club
  12. ^ "SEAWOLVES SIGN EX-ORLANDO CITY LEWIS NEAL". OrlandoSeaWolves.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Orlando City alumni Lewis Neal joins the Panthers coaching staff". CFSCPanthers.com. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  14. ^ Cozzoli, Matteo. "Miami FC Announces Departure of Anthony Pulis as Head Coach". MiamiFC.com. Miami FC. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  15. ^ Cozzoli, Matteo. "Coach Lewis Neal departs Miami FC". MiamiFC.com. Miami FC. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  16. ^ Goff, Steven (22 February 2013). "D.C. United news & notes". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  17. ^ "Lewis Neal". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 December 2013.