Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Roger Verdi

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Full name
  
Rajinder Singh Virdee

Years
  
Team

Position
  
Defender

Playing position
  
Defender

Role
  
Footballer

Place of birth
  
Nairobi, Kenya

Name
  
Roger Verdi

Date of birth
  
c. 1953

1972–1973
  
Montreal Olympique


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Harald Genzmer, Sonate for Trombone and Piano, Roger Verdi Trombone


Roger Verdi (born c. 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.

Contents

Roger Verdi Roger Verdi The forgotten pioneer of British Asians in Football

Early life

Roger Verdi Roger Verdi overcame racism in Britain to take on Pele in America

Verdi was born as Rajinder Singh Virdee in Nairobi, Kenya, to Indian Sikh parents. He moved to England at the age of seven, and changed his name due to racism.

England

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

North America

In the United States, 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.

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.

He Is also the owner of the Roger Verdi International Soccer Academy.

References

Roger Verdi Wikipedia