Eric Williams (football coach)

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Eric Williams

|fullname =

|birth_date =

|birth_place = Kent, England

|position = Midfielder

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = Canterbury City

|clubs1 = Canterbury City

|years2 = 1980

|clubs2 = Newcastle KB United

|years3 = 1981

|clubs3 = Po Chai Pills

|nationalteam1 = England U18

|nationalcaps1 = 3

|manageryears1 = 1988-1990

|managerclubs1 = North Perth Croatia

|manageryears2 = 1992-1993

|managerclubs2 = Spearwood Dalmatinac

|manageryears3 = 1993-1995

|managerclubs3 = Floreat Athena

|manageryears4 = 1994-1997

|managerclubs4 = Western Australia State Team

|manageryears5 =

|managerclubs5 = Stirling Lions

|manageryears6 = 1999-2000

|managerclubs6 = Swan I.C.

|manageryears7 = 2004–2005

|managerclubs7 = Sriwijaya

|manageryears8 = 2007–2008

|managerclubs8 = Perseman Manokwari[https://www.antaranews.com/berita/74626/kalahkan-perseman-persijap-ke-puncak-klasemen-wilayah-dua Kalahkan Perseman, Persijap ke Puncak Klasemen Wilayah Dua] Antaranews.com.

|manageryears9 = 2008

|managerclubs9 = PSMS Medan

|manageryears10 = 2010–2012

|managerclubs10 = Yangon United

|manageryears11 = 2014–2015

|managerclubs11 = Yangon United

|manageryears12= 2015

|managerclubs12= Myanmar U16[https://www.mmtimes.com/sports/15615-myanmar-u16s-start-new-campaign-with-new-coach.html Myanmar U16s start new campaign with new coach] Myanmar Times.

|manageryears13 = 2016–2017

|managerclubs13 = Melaka United

|manageryears14 = 2020

|managerclubs14 = Swan I.C.

}}

Eric Williams is an English football manager.

Coaching career

Starting his coaching career in Western Australia to augment his income, he managed North Perth Croatia, Spearwood Dalmatinac and Floreat Athena. Between 1994 and 1997 he led the Western Australia State Team to historic victories over English clubs West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. He then coached at Stirling Lions and Swan I.C. before moving to Indonesia.

His first involvement in Myanmar was when he was invited to build the basic structure of a football academy right next to the Yangon United training site.

The Kent native was first named coach of MNL title contenders Yangon United in 2010. At first, his appointment date coincided with his second marriage in Indonesia so he had to return later.[https://www.mmtimes.com/sports/9893-from-the-gold-coast-to-the-golden-land.html From the Gold Coast to the Golden Land] Myanmar Times.

Williams was commissioned to fill in the vacancy left by previous Melaka United coach Mat Zan Mat Aris in November 2016{{cite web|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/11/189160/football-expectations-high-new-malacca-utd-coach-eric-williams|work=New Straits Times|title=(Football) Expectations high for new Malacca Utd coach Eric Williams | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News|date=16 November 2016 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/11/188978/eric-williams-new-malacca-united-coach|work=New Straits Times|title=Eric Williams is new Malacca United coach | Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News|date=15 November 2016 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}

and won his first game 1–0 over PKNS FC.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3889/main/2017/02/17/32766772/williams-praises-boys-after-their-first-win-in-2017|publisher=goal.com|title=Williams praises boys after their first win in 2017 |accessdate=11 July 2017}}

=Other=

Just after moving to Indonesia in 2002, he developed a national under-17s youth program.

Williams was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame Western Australia in recognition of his achievements as the head coach of the Western Australia State Team.{{cite web|url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~jacob/wasoccer/halloffame/hallofrecognition.htm|publisher=members.iinet.net.au|title=Football Hall of Fame, Western Australia : Hall of Recognition|accessdate=11 July 2017}}

He is helping the Rhys Williams Foundation which supports children in Indonesia to play football.

Personal life

The coach has three sons, Rhys, Ryan and Aryn,[http://footballwest.com.au/williams-follows-in-fathers-footsteps/ Williams follows in father's footsteps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223110914/http://footballwest.com.au/williams-follows-in-fathers-footsteps/ |date=23 February 2018 }} Football West. who were born in Australia and are all professional footballers. Williams offered his eldest son Rhys (who plays for Middlesbrough FC in the Premier League) a contract in the Malaysian Super League but it was promptly declined by Perth Glory.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/3106562/rhys-williams-prepares-for-a-league-final-as-father-battles-in-malaysia|publisher=espnfc.com|title=Rhys Williams prepares for A-League final as father battles in Malaysia – ESPN FC|accessdate=11 July 2017}}

Incidentally, he is adept at speaking Bahasa Melayu, the Malaysian language.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}\