Editor’s note: This story was originally published in October 2025 has been updated to reflect Chris Richards winning U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year.
Had it not been for an untimely injury, Chris Richards would have been one of the United States’s starting center backs at the 2022 World Cup.
The Birmingham, Alabama native has established himself as the USA’s top defender in the years since, starring in the English Premier League and winning both the 2025 FA Cup and Community Shield with London club Crystal Palace. For the USA, he played 12 matches and scored two goals, including in the Concacaf Gold Cup final loss to Mexico back in June.
The affable 25-year-old has also emerged as a key leader in the USA locker room, with a smile and personality that has endeared him to teammates and coaches alike. Who is Richards off the field? He recently sat down with me to help fans find out:
Alabama is gridiron country. How did you end up playing soccer?
Today there’s the [second-tier] Birmingham Legion, however again then there was no professional crew within the state. The closest senior professional crew then was in Atlanta. UAB was most likely the best stage to us again then. So it was positively completely different. Birmingham solely has three youth golf equipment. Huntsville had two. It felt like we had been enjoying the identical groups each weekend.
As soon as we certified for regional play, we performed groups from Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi. It wasn’t fairly. The groups from Tennessee and Georgia used to kill us. It confirmed how massive the hole was between Alabama and the remainder of the South. However it’s cool seeing it now, with Legion and with Nashville SC and Atlanta United in MLS, soccer has grown rather a lot — particularly with youngsters.
When did you notice you needed to depart Alabama to additional your profession?
In Birmingham, all people is aware of all people. Tanner Tessmann was going to FC Dallas. I needed to be knowledgeable, however no one had actually supplied me a chance to take the subsequent step of my improvement. So I reached out to Luchi Gonzalez on the FC Dallas academy and stated I might love to come back on trial. And I really feel like I did effectively, however I used to be simply lacking a bit of bit. However I additionally noticed how shut I used to be. I felt like I may have made it if I used to be given the time.
They did not take me at first, so I moved to Houston. That is after I realized that that is what I need to do, and I can do it. It was due to the rejection from Dallas.
How previous had been you?
I used to be 16 after I moved to Houston, so I lived with a number household. I couldn’t have been blessed with a greater scenario in Houston. The Eastons had been my host household, and we nonetheless speak to today. They’ve all the time been like household to me. Once I moved to Dallas at 17, the crew put me up in an house.
Have been you a central defender then?
I performed each place. I did not even begin enjoying heart again till I used to be most likely 15. I’d solely performed the place for a 12 months after I known as Luchi.
Chris Richards has solidified his spot on the USMNT backline. (Photograph by Shaun Clark/Getty Photos)
Did you play different sports activities?
I performed basketball and ran monitor.
Why not soccer?
I performed flag soccer. My dad did not need me to play sort out. First, the soccer and soccer seasons had been on the similar time. But in addition, soccer in Alabama is like faith. You couldn’t actually play one other sport on the similar time, as a result of all of your time went to that. In order a lot as I needed to play soccer, I am glad I didn’t.
You’re 6-foot-2. Did the soccer coaches attempt to recruit you?
I used to be most likely 5-foot-five, 140 kilos, soaking moist till I used to be 16. They needed me to be the kicker. However I used to be form of good at each sport. I had good arms. I throw very well. In flag soccer, I used to be all the time a receiver or security, so I figured I may play a kind of positions. I truly tried out for highschool soccer — my dad did not need me to, however he was like, it’s your life, you may make that call if you would like. I bought the flu that week. I by no means bought sick rising up, and the one time I ever went out for sort out soccer I used to be sick as a canine. It labored out.
Did your mother and father play sports activities?
My dad performed skilled basketball abroad, in Iceland, Australia and Bolivia. So I grew up enjoying basketball first. However I did not hit my development spurt until the 12 months I moved to Houston, like I stated. That summer time, I most likely grew 5 to 6 inches and gained 40 kilos. When my dad got here to see me at Thanksgiving, we had been nearly wanting eye to eye.
My mother swam and performed soccer rising up, and was a cheerleader as effectively. She’s from a small city in Ohio nation, close to Amish nation.
How did you get into soccer?
I used to be a really energetic child. My mother and father put me in an after-school program that saved me busy. I keep in mind enjoying soccer in a health club at my nursery faculty. Ever since then, it is caught with me.
And I feel as a result of my dad did not know something about soccer, that is the game I selected. He could not inform me I used to be doing one thing fallacious, you understand? I form of fell out of affection with enjoying basketball as a result of he was so robust on me. Typically I want I continued enjoying basketball. I nonetheless like it.
Do you’ve got a favourite crew? Favourite gamers?
Gamers, yeah. Enormous Kyrie Irving fan. Kobe, in fact. I used to be extra of a degree guard than a capturing guard, so Kyrie was my man. I additionally love LeBron. Devin Booker, too.
Have you ever crossed paths with any NBA gamers?
My dad’s favourite participant rising up was Dominique Wilkins, so it was cool to fulfill him. We’re each buyers within the Legion, so I bought to introduce my dad to him. That was cool. I met Kemba Walker when he was in Charlotte. Eric Bledsoe — he’s from Birmingham. I met him at a camp a very long time in the past.
Who’s essentially the most well-known individual you have met?
I met Prince William once we gained the FA Cup. He simply congratulated me. My first 12 months with Palace we performed Bournemouth, and Michael B. Jordan simply purchased into the crew. In order that was cool, having the ability to say howdy to him within the tunnel.
I used to be on a flight to Monaco for F1 and Matt Damon was on the aircraft. However I heard he is form of a jerk so I simply gave him a head nod. My favourite film ever is “Saving Non-public Ryan,” in order that half was fairly cool.
Chris Richards’ FA Cup victory with Crystal Palace allowed him to fulfill Prince William.
Why do you want that film a lot?
I’ve all the time been fascinated with World Struggle II. My great-grandfather truly fought in it. It was all the time my favourite subject at school. It is fascinating.
In case you weren’t a soccer participant, what would you be doing?
I’ve all the time liked footwear, so I’ll say shoe designer. Historical past instructor would have been cool as effectively. Possibly be a basketball coach on the aspect.
Chris Richards has loads of ink that he is pleased with. (Photograph by Omar Vega/Getty Photos)
You’ve got bought a ton of tattoos. What was the primary one you bought? What is the story behind it?
My first one was the date I moved away from residence: August 6, 2016. I bought it in Dallas the day earlier than my 18th birthday. It was the worst ache on the planet. By no means thought I’d do it once more. One factor led to a different, and I bought a couple of extra.
Rising up I hated needles. I used to be by no means actually fascinated with tattoos. However I had actually unhealthy eczema on my arms as a child. I used to all the time put on long-sleeved shirts. I favored the concept of having the ability to cowl up that a part of my physique.
Then simply seeing different folks with tattoos, coaching with the FC Dallas first crew and seeing them, I feel it was cool. I keep in mind taking a look at Maxi Urruti and on his leg he had all of the completely different golf equipment he performed at. Tattoos can inform a narrative. I needed my tattoos to inform a narrative about me. In 60 years from now, if God forbid I am unable to keep in mind something, my physique will nonetheless be capable to inform a narrative.
I do know you’ve got one in all John Carlos and Tommie Smith on the 1968 Olympics.
Rising up as a black man in Birmingham, you are taught that a variety of your historical past has form of been lined up or deleted. So that you form of have to do your personal analysis.
On my proper arm, it is largely African-People who’ve modified the world: Muhammad Ali, Kobe Bryant, Martin Luther King. I’ve the Olympics, such as you stated. I feel it is part of historical past that individuals have a tendency to not keep in mind. It’s appeared on now as like this nice American second, however they could not even get jobs once they bought again to the U.S.
You talked about Saving Non-public Ryan. What different motion pictures do you want? What’s your high 5 like? , different ones that you just like?
I like Quentin Tarantino movies: Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds. Soul, the Pixar film. The comedy Step Brothers might be up there.
What sort of music do you hearken to?
Loads of home music not too long ago, however I additionally like hip hop, nation. The British rapper Dave is dope. My favourite artist proper now could be Shaboozey. He is like a mix of hip hop and nation. I actually like his vibe.
Each new participant who joins the USMNT has to sing in entrance of the group. What tune did you sing?
“Hotline Bling” by Drake. However I keep in mind after I was at Bayern Munich, we had been in Qatar for a preseason camp and tensions within the Center East had been form of robust. One thing had occurred at one of many U.S. embassies over there, and my dumb ass sang “Social gathering within the USA.” Everybody’s taking a look at me like I’m loopy.
Have been you nervous?
Yeah, however everybody’s been by it, proper? The most effective factor to do is to have a tune that individuals can sing alongside to in order that they form of catch on, like, midway by. The issue was that I used to be on a German crew. I did not fairly know my viewers but.
What’s your earliest reminiscence of watching the nationwide crew?
World Cup 2010 towards Algeria. I keep in mind when Landon Donovan scored the purpose. I used to be at a soccer camp in downtown Birmingham, at Birmingham Southern School. We had been on the pitch, and so they had the radio, like, on the loudspeaker.
I assume Tim Howard picked up the ball and threw it out. And so they had the commentary blasting, like as loud as doable, and you can simply really feel the stress rising. They scored the purpose, we heard the “Go, Go USA!” name and it was simply superb. That was positively after I realized what the nationwide crew was all about.
Which gamers did you look as much as?
Cristiano Ronaldo, as a result of rising up I used to be a winger and we’ve got the identical initials. I wore CR7 cleats. I had a pink Manchester United jersey with Richards on the again and No. 7. I bought the blue one, too. I liked Manchester United.
After I began enjoying heart again, I actually favored Jerome Boating, Sergio Ramos. I used to love Eddie Johnson rather a lot. He’d come out with yellow hair. One time he had a lightning bolt in his hair. I simply thought that was so cool. He broke the norm. I favored Gyasi Zardes’ hair, too.
Gyasi instructed me he dyes his hair blonde, so his grandmother can see him on the sector. You’ve had completely different hairstyles, however you’re additionally simple to seek out. Is that a part of the considering?
At first, it was only for swag. Then my grandma had a stroke about three years in the past. When she sees my video games now, she’s like, “There’s Chris.” That is most likely the primary motive, that it’s very recognizable.
So that you go from Alabama to Texas, after which a few years later, you’re at Bayern Munich.
It was loopy. Inside two years — the summer time of 2016 I used to be transferring to Houston from Alabama, then 2018 summer time I used to be transferring to Germany. It did not really feel actual, like, after I look again on it now.
Once you arrived in Germany, I’m certain it bought actual – actual fast.
The primary day I walked into the altering room and noticed David Alaba, Franck Ribéry, these world-class gamers. It was jaw-dropping to me. Very intimidating, too. I did not communicate the language. It was robust.
It was solely alleged to be for a couple of months, however they needed to make it a everlasting transfer. I needed to come back again to Dallas at that time and play in MLS.
Chris Richards had a stint with Bayern Munich. (Photograph by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Photos by way of Getty Photos)
Why?
I used to be alleged to be there for six months, enjoying with Bayern’s under-19 crew. I introduced one massive suitcase. My agent calls and says Bayern needs to make your deal everlasting. 5-year contract. I do not actually need to, I am gonna come again and play for FC Dallas like a few of my associates had been doing. He is like, bro, give it some thought.
I known as Eric Quill — he was my coach at Houston. He was like, “Do not stay life with regrets. Do it. Belief me.” I talked with my mother and father, and it was simply the precise match for me.
How did your mother and father really feel about you leaving residence at 16?
My dad knew that if I needed to get to the place I’m at now I needed to do it. However my mother was devastated. So it was robust. On the time, my brother was three years previous, and my sister was 9. I’m the oldest, we’re all six years aside. So I knew that that was the final time I’d be dwelling in the home with my household.
It was robust for everyone, a variety of sleepless nights, a variety of telephone calls again residence.
What’s one of the best a part of dwelling in London?
The completely different cultures? It is one thing in Birmingham that you do not get apart from Mexican, Latin American tradition — which, to be truthful, in London they’re lacking a bit of bit.
However there’s a variety of Caribbean affect, a variety of African affect, a variety of Center Jap affect. I did discover a good Mexican restaurant in London — they see me most likely as soon as every week.
How do you keep linked to your American roots whereas abroad?
I am going to the flicks on a regular basis. In Munich, there was just one movie show that performed English motion pictures, so I used to go as soon as every week, center of the day, after coaching.
How lengthy did it take you to study to drive on the opposite aspect of the street?
Once I first bought my first automotive in England, I needed to take the practice right down to Bournemouth to choose it up and drive it again, like, three hours.
I used to be within the quick lane considering it was a gradual lane. It was a large number. I bought there ultimately, however my shirt was drenched with sweat. It took about two weeks to really feel regular.
What would you like your legacy to be after soccer?
I need to be remembered as one of the best defender to ever play for the nationwide crew. I simply need to be referred to as this man who simply liked to defend. These days, there’s this stigma that everyone must be one of the best ball-playing defender. My important job is to defend. That is what I am gonna do.
Off the sector, I would like folks to keep in mind that I used to be a greater human than a soccer participant.
Would you need to coach when your enjoying days are over?
I need to be an agent. Rising up I needed to be a coach. Then I left residence early and I did not ever actually need to be that distant from my household once more. I don’t need to have to maneuver my household right here and there. Being an agent, you are able to do it from a variety of locations. I feel I’ll get my teaching license, although.
What has fatherhood taught you?
It is given me a totally completely different perspective. You all the time hear that, then as soon as it truly occurs, as soon as your kid’s born, it is like it’s a must to all the time present for this individual.
For me, it’s doing the additional issues of coaching, ensuring that I put myself in one of the best place to assist my household. So it is taught me completely different tasks, taught me that you do not come first anymore. Your baby comes first. And that is lovely. It is one of the best factor on the planet.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males’s and ladies’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Observe him @ByDougMcIntyre.
