Leigh Veidman (born 9 June 1988) is an English professional football coach and former player who is the head coach of USL League One club Spokane Velocity.
 Veidman with Spokane Velocity in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leigh Veidman | ||
| Date of birth | 9 June 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Spokane Velocity (head coach) | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Iowa Western Reivers | 33 | (41) |
| 2011 | Texas-Brownsville Ocelots | 21 | (14) |
| 2013 | Bellevue Bruins | 18 | (8) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2014 | Toronto Lynx | 56 | (13) |
| 2015–2016 | Des Moines Menace | 16 | (12) |
| 2017 | FC Boulder U23 | 12 | (6) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2015–2017 | Midland Warriors (assistant) | ||
| 2016–2017 | Des Moines Menace (assistant) | ||
| 2017–2019 | FC Boulder (academy) | ||
| 2019–2020 | Fresno FC (assistant) | ||
| 2020–2021 | OKC Energy (assistant) | ||
| 2021 | OKC Energy | ||
| 2023 | Charleston Battery (assistant) | ||
| 2024– | Spokane Velocity | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career edit
His career started with stints at both Liverpool and Everton youth academies.[1] Veidman came to the United States from England to play college soccer in 2008.[2] His first stop was at NJCAA team Iowa Western Community College where he was he earned All-Conference honors in 2008 and 2010 and All-American honors in 2010.[3] He holds the record at Iowa Western for most career goals (41) and most career points (91).[4] Veidman transferred to the NAIA school University of Texas at Brownsville where he earned All-Conference honors in 2011.[5] The last of his college career was played at the NAIA school Bellevue University where he again earned All-Conference honors in 2013.[6]
Veidman's senior level club career included a stint with then USL PDL club Toronto Lynx from 2011 to 2014, and another at then-USL PDL club Des Moines Menace in 2015 and 2016.[2] His last season as a player in the PDL was in 2017 with FC Boulder U23.[7]
Managerial career edit
Veidman started gaining coaching experience by leading Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska.[3] Between 2015 and 2017, he was as an assistant coach at Midland University while concurrently coaching as an assistant during the club season for Des Moines Menace.[2]
His break in to coaching at the professional level came with Fresno FC under Adam Smith.[8] After Fresno FC folded, Veidman came on as an assistant coach for Energy FC under John Pascarella.[9] Veidman got his chance to become a head coach when Energy FC let go of Pascarella in June 2021.[10][11] He won three out of his first four matches as the head coach, more than the club had won in the entire 2020 season.[12] On October 28, 2021, the interim tag was removed and Veidman officially became the Energy's fourth permanent head coach.[13] However, the Energy were put on hiatus for the 2022 season, later extended through at least the 2023 campaign.
On January 30, 2023, Veidman joined the Charleston Battery as an assistant coach.[14] He helped the Battery to the 2023 USL Championship Final.
On November 15, 2023, Veidman was named the first-ever head coach of USL League One's Spokane Velocity, set to begin play in 2024.[15]
Career statistics edit
Managerial edit
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| OKC Energy | 4 June 2021 | 28 October 2021 | 25 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 32.00 |
| Spokane Velocity | 15 November 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |
References edit
- ^ "Leigh Veidman Owns the Pitch". 405 Magazine. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ a b c Chris Cuellar (8 July 2016). "Menace star Veidman desperate for soccer success in U.S." The Des Moines Register.
- ^ a b "Leigh Veidman – Midland University". www.midlandathletics.com.
- ^ "Records". Go Reivers.
- ^ "2011 RRAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Team". redriverconference.com. 9 November 2011.
- ^ "Leigh Veidman". Bellevue University Athletics.
- ^ "FC Boulder U23 Leigh Veidman". USL League Two.
- ^ "Coach Smith Announces Changes to Staff for 2019 Season". oursportscentral.com. 24 January 2014.
- ^ "Leigh Veidman named assistant coach". www.energyfc.com. 20 January 2020.
- ^ Steven Christy (13 June 2021). "'Just another day on the pitch': Energy FC loses in Leigh Veidman's first match as interim coach". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ Myron Patton (4 June 2021). "Energy FC will have a new coach". okcfox.com.
- ^ "OKC Energy FC Schedule". www.uslchampionship.com.
- ^ "LEIGH VEIDMAN NAMED PERMANENT HEAD COACH OF ENERGY FC". www.energyfc.com. 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Coaching staff completed with Rensing, Veidman, Jones, Salley". CharlestonBattery.com. Charleston Battery. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Leigh Veidman named inaugural Spokane Velocity FC head coach". USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.