“FC Virginia is very happy to have an agreement with Richie Burke,” said FC Virginia President Terry Foley. “I have coached against Richie for many years, I also worked as a director alongside him at D.C. United and RFC. He will be a wealth of knowledge and experience to FC Virginia. As we look to grow the boy’s side of the program I feel Richie is the perfect person to direct and establish the FCV boys as a nationally competitive program in a short time.”
FC Virginia is a member of the Virginia National Premier League (NPL) and Boys Club Championship (BCC), a national league formed in 2014. FC Virginia also features an identification program with Arsenal FC through its Puma relationship.
Burke started his playing career with Liverpool and Everton at the youth level. After that he spent most of his professional playing career in the United States. Originally playing collegiate soccer at American University, he went on to play for the Washington Diplomats and Washington Stars. He also enjoyed brief spells with Chester City in England and Sydney Olympic in Australia. Burke spent the later stages of his career playing indoor soccer with the Washington Warthogs before retiring in 1994, following a career spanning 15 years.
Burke currently holds a UEFA Pro License. He began his coaching career in the US soccer camp business as an owner and operator of The Players Soccer Academy. He then went on to work with the USSF in the Olympic Development Program. Burke was also employed as technical director and director of coaching at various regional soccer clubs. He then enjoyed a successful stint at MLS club D.C. United where he worked in several positions including first-team assistant coach (from 2001-2003 under Ray Hudson), director of youth programs and USSF development academy head coach. In his time with the academy program he helped to secure an MLS Youth Cup Championship in 2007.
In 2012, Burke moved back to the UK after securing a coaching position with Scottish Football League First Division side Livingston. In addition to this, he was also tasked with developing the clubs newly formed youth foundation. In March 2013, he was appointed manager of Scottish Pro team Livingston.
Burke’s most recent coaching role in the U.S. was as head coach of the D.C. United U-23 Premier Development League (PDL) squad, while he also served as technical director with local youth club Evergreen FC.