Roger Verdi

Roger Verdi (born Rajinder Singh Virdee on 4 February 1953) is an English retired professional footballer who spent his entire career in North America, making over 100 league appearances in the North American Soccer League.

Roger Verdi
Personal information
Full name Rajinder Singh Virdee
Date of birth (1953-02-04) 4 February 1953
Place of birth Nairobi, Kenya
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1972 Vancouver Spartans 25 (1)
1972–1973 Montreal Olympique 25 (1)
1974 Miami Toros 10 (0)
1975–1977 St. Louis Stars (0)
1978 San Jose Earthquakes 9 (0)
1979 Cleveland Cobras
1979 Columbus Magic
1980 Phoenix Fire 0 (0)
1980–1981 Phoenix Inferno 38 (2)
Total 141+ (3+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

Verdi was born on 4 February 1953,[1][2] as Rajinder Singh Virdee in Nairobi, Kenya, to Indian Sikh parents.[3] He was the youngest of their two sons.[4] The family moved to England when Verdi was aged seven, settling in Smethwick.[4] He attended Sandwell Boys school.[4]

Verdi changed his name due to racism.[3] He went by 'Roger Jones' and 'Roger Jones Verdi' before settling on 'Roger Verdi'.[4]

Career

England

Verdi played with the youth teams of both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town,[4] but failing to get a professional contract with either team, moved to North America.[5]

North America

Verdi began his career in Canada with the Vancouver Spartans.[4]

Verdi played in the NASL between 1972 and 1978 for the Montreal Olympique, Miami Toros, St. Louis Stars and San Jose Earthquakes, making a total of 103 league appearances.[1] He later played in the ASL for the Cleveland Cobras, Columbus Magic, and the Phoenix Fire, and in the MISL for Phoenix Inferno.[1]

Coaching career

After his playing career ended he moved into coaching, holding assistant coaching positions with Athlone Town FC, Stockport County, Phoenix Inferno and Cleveland Cobras. Other coaching positions include Co-director for Hubert Vogelsinger Soccer Academy in Texas, Connecticut and California and has been the Technical Director for youth clubs in Washington, New Mexico. He joined DFW Tornados as a coach in 2010.[6]

He is also the owner of the Roger Verdi International Soccer Academy.[6]

Later life

Verdi retired to Dallas, Texas, working in construction.[4]

References
  1. http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/V/Verdi.Roger.htm
  2. 1977 St. Louis Stars (NASL) media guide
  3. Harmit Singh Kamboe (June 2007). "Interview with Roger Verdi". IndianFootball.com. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  4. "Roger Verdi: Marking Pele and playing darts with George Best". BBC Sport. 3 April 2019.
  5. Shamya Dasgupta. "He played against Pele, Best, Banks, now he wants to coach here". IndianExpress.com. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  6. DFW Tornados. "DFW Tornados Coaches". www.dfwtornados.org. Archived from the original on 6 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
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