Tom Soehn (born April 15, 1966) is an American soccer coach who is the head coach of USL Championship club Birmingham Legion. A former player, his career as a defender spanned seven clubs across 12 seasons, both indoors and outdoors.

Tom Soehn
A Caucasian man with a shaved head dressed in a white shirt and striped tie sits at a table with his hands holding the base of a microphone and looks downward from the middle of the picture. Behind him are logos of various companies that sponsor the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Personal information
Date of birth (1966-04-15) April 15, 1966 (age 58)
Place of birth Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1987 Western Illinois Leathernecks
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1992 Wichita Wings (indoor) 147 (17)
1989-1990 Ottawa Intrepid 27 (6)
1991 Hamilton Steelers 9 (0)
1992–1993 Denver Thunder (indoor) 35 (20)
1992–1994 Colorado Foxes
1993–1996 Wichita Wings (indoor) 101 (68)
1995 Las Vegas Dustdevils (indoor) 27 (16)
1996–1998 Dallas Burn 43 (0)
1998–2000 Chicago Fire 60 (2)
Managerial career
2001–2003 Chicago Fire (assistant)
2003–2006 D.C. United (assistant)
2006–2009 D.C. United
2011 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (interim)
2014–2017 New England Revolution (assistant)
2017 New England Revolution (interim)
2018– Birmingham Legion
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Youth and college

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Soehn was born to immigrant parents. His parents moved to the United States from Germany, but his father was born in Romania.[1] Soehn began playing soccer with the Chicago Kickers when he was four. He attended Forest View High School. He attended Western Illinois University from 1984 to 1987.[2] In 2003, Western Illinois inducted Soehn into its Athletics Hall of Fame.

Indoor soccer

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Soehn signed with the Wichita Wings of Major Indoor Soccer League from 1988 to 1992. He moved to the Denver Thunder of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) for the 1992–1993 season before returning to the Wings in 1993 which were now playing in the NPSL. He remained with the Wings until 1996. In 1995, he played the summer indoor season with the Las Vegas Dustdevils of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL).

In 1989 and 1990, Soehn played with the Ottawa Intrepid of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). In 1991, he played with the Hamilton Steelers.[3]

APSL

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In addition to playing indoor soccer, Soehn played with the Colorado Foxes of the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) in 1992,[4] 1993[5] and 1994.[6] The Foxes went to three consecutive APSL championship games those three seasons. They won the 1992 and 1993 titles, but lost to the Montreal Impact in 1994.

Soehn played four years in MLS after being drafted by the Dallas Burn in the second round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. He missed the 1996 season with the injury, but played for the Burn in 1997. In 1998, he began the season with the Burn, but was traded to the Chicago Fire after fourteen games. He remained with the Fire until he retired from playing in 2000. During his time with Chicago, he was a member of the Fire's three championship teams (MLS Cup 1998, U.S. Open Cup 1998 and 2000).

Coaching career

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After retiring as a player, he became an assistant coach to Bob Bradley at the Fire and then moved to D.C. United to become Peter Nowak's top assistant in 2003. During his time as the top assistant, D.C. United won MLS Cup in 2004, and a Supporters Shield in 2005. On December 21, 2006, Soehn replaced Nowak as the head coach at United.[7][8]

On November 3, 2009, it was announced that Soehn had withdrawn himself for consideration for a contract renewal, ending a three-year reign that included a Supporters Shield in 2007, an Open Cup in 2008 and Open Cup Runner-Up in 2009.[9]

On January 19, 2010, Soehn was given the job as Director of Soccer Operations by Canadian soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[10] On May 30, 2011, it was announced that he would take over as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps, after Teitur Thordarson was let go by the club.[11] After the 2011 season ended, Soehn stepped down from the head coaching role in favor for Martin Rennie and reclaimed his former position as Director of Soccer Operations.

On November 15, 2012, it was revealed that Soehn and Vancouver Whitecaps FC had mutually parted ways.

As of January 10, 2014, Soehn has been brought to the New England Revolution as an assistant coach to Jay Heaps.[12]

On September 18, 2017, it was reported that Jay Heaps had been fired and that Soehn would take over as the interim coach of the New England Revolution.[13]

On August 16, 2018, the newly-formed Birmingham Legion FC announced that Soehn would become head coach of the team ahead of their first season in the USL.[14]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played October 27, 2019[15]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
D.C. United   December 21, 2006 November 3, 2009 134 54 32 48 210 190 +20 040.30
Vancouver Whitecaps (interim)   May 30, 2011 October 25, 2011 23 5 4 14 23 40 −17 021.74
New England Revolution (interim)   September 19, 2017 November 9, 2017 5 3 1 1 8 10 −2 060.00
Birmingham Legion   August 18, 2018 Present 82 37 17 28 115 101 +14 045.12
Total 244 99 54 91 356 341 +15 040.57

References

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  1. ^ Steven Goff (April 14, 2007). "Soehn's Past Helps His Presence With United". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  2. ^ Goff, Steven (April 14, 2007). "Soehn's Past Helps His Presence With United". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "All Time Regular Season Stats.PDF" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "APSL 1992 Season". A-leaguearchive.tripod.com. January 27, 2007. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  5. ^ "APSL 1993 Season". A-leaguearchive.tripod.com. January 27, 2007. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "APSL 1994 Results". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2007.
  7. ^ mlssoccer. "Behind the Badge: Proud papa | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  8. ^ "Parcel ID: 084108851000". Loudoun County Property Records.
  9. ^ SI.com[dead link]
  10. ^ Tom Soehn joins Whitecaps staff[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Whitecaps FC announce technical staff changes". Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  12. ^ "Revolution adds Tom Soehn to coaching staff | New England Revolution". Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  13. ^ Carlisle, Jeff. "Jay Heaps sacked as New England Revolution manager - sources". espnfc.us. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  14. ^ "Legion FC appoints Tom Soehn as first Head Coach". August 16, 2018. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  15. ^ "Tom Soehn career sheet". footballdatabase. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
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