Khano Smith

Khano Smith
Personal information
Full name Khano Smith
Date of birth (1981-01-10) 10 January 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Paget, Bermuda
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
 Rhode Island FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Champlain Beavers
2001–2002 Lees-McRae Bobcats
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003 Carolina Dynamo 12 (4)
2003–2005 Dandy Town Hornets 28 (15)
2005–2008 New England Revolution 85 (8)
2009 New York Red Bulls 8 (0)
2009–2010 Lincoln City 5 (0)
2010 New England Revolution 15 (0)
2011 Bermuda Hogges 5 (2)
2014 Real Boston Rams 1 (0)
Total 159 (29)
International career
2003–2012 Bermuda 33 (10)
Managerial career
2015 Southern New Hampshire Penmen (assistant)
2016–2018 Orlando Pride (assistant)
2019–2023 Birmingham Legion FC (assistant)
2024– Rhode Island FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Khano Smith (born 10 January 1981) is a Bermudian retired footballer who is serving as a head coach and general manager for USL Championship club Rhode Island FC.[1]

Club career

College and amateur

Smith played college soccer at Champlain College and Lees-McRae College, and in the USL Premier Development League for Carolina Dynamo.

Professional career

Smith began his professional career playing for the Dandy Town Hornets, who he helped win the 2003–04 Cingular Wireless Premier Division title in his first year at the club. In his second season, he led the league in scoring as Dandy Town finished two points behind Devonshire Cougars. He captured his second trophy with the club in 2005 leading the Hornets to the Bermuda Champions Cup.

After two successful seasons in Bermuda, he moved to Major League Soccer and signed with the New England Revolution on April 15, 2005.[2][3] He made his first start, and scored his first goal, on 4 June 2005 during a 1–1 tie with the Kansas City Wizards.[4] Smith also scored the winning goal against the MetroStars which led the Revolution to the MLS Conference Championship in 2005.[5][6][7] He came to be known in New England for his inconsistent play, showing occasional flashes of brilliance, but also making fundamental mistakes.[citation needed] He was also known for his pace and his crucial crosses which pick out his teammates for easy finishes.[citation needed]

He moved from an out and out striker to an attacking left wing back. In 2007 and 2008 he was the regular starter on the left wing and scored several crucial goals.[citation needed]

On 26 November 2008, Smith was selected by Seattle Sounders FC with the fourth pick in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft.[8] Before ever playing a match for the Sounders, he was traded to New York Red Bulls in exchange for allocation money.[9] On 30 July 2009 New York waived Smith.[10]

After trialing with Southend United, and playing for their reserves in a 4–0 defeat to Norwich City reserves in September 2009, Smith was offered a professional contract at Lincoln City, having impressed new manager Chris Sutton on a 10-day trial.[11] On 23 October Smith was reported to have signed a 'short-term' deal with Lincoln.[12]

Smith became an instant first team regular at Lincoln. However, he was dropped after six games, his final one coming in an FA Cup game at Northwich Victoria. He was released when his contract expired on 7 January 2010.[13]

Smith re-signed with New England Revolution on 26 March 2010 after trialing with the team during pre-season.[14]

After the 2010 Major League Soccer season New England declined Smith's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Smith became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft. On 7 March 2011 he signed with Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League.[15] However, Smith was not listed on the 2011 roster released by the club on 4 April 2011. In an interview with Bermuda's The Royal Gazette on 7 April, Smith stated he would not play for Carolina due to a contract dispute.[16]

International career

Smith made his debut for Bermuda in a December 2003 friendly match against Barbados and earned a total of 33 caps, scoring 10 goals. He represented his country in 13 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.[17]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 February 2004 Bermuda National Stadium, Devonshire Parish, Bermuda  Montserrat 4–0 13–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 21 March 2004 Blakes Estate Stadium, Plymouth, Montserrat 5–0 7–0
3 21 March 2004 6–0 7–0
4 24 November 2004 Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Cayman Islands 1–0 2–1 2005 Caribbean Cup qualification
5 26 November 2004 Arnos Vale Stadium, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1–1 3–3
6 21 November 2006 Barbados National Stadium, Bridgetown, Barbados  Bahamas 1–0 4–0 Caribbean Nations Cup 2006-07
7 3–0
8 6 September 2011 Providence Stadium, Providence, Guyana  Guyana 1–2 1–2 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 11 November 2011 Bermuda National Stadium, Devonshire Parish, Bermuda  Barbados 1–1 2–1
10 14 November 2011 2–0 2–1

Managerial career

Smith was named assistant coach for Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League in December 2015.[18] On 18 December 2018, Smith joined the technical staff of expansion club Birmingham Legion FC ahead of their first season in the USL Championship.[19]

Smith was announced as the first-ever head coach and general manager of Rhode Island FC on March 8, 2023.[20] Smith coached Rhode Island FC to the 5th seed in the regular season, and a loss in the Championship Final in their first season as a club. They lost to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 3-0 in the final.[21]

Honors

Dandy Town Hornets

New England Revolution

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Rhode Island FC appoints Khano Smith as first Head Coach and General Manager". uslchampionship.com. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Revolution signs forward Khano Smith". 15 April 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Club History Coach and Player Registry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  4. ^ 2024 Media Guide. New England Revolution. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Smith an unlikely hero for Revolution". 22 January 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  6. ^ Lemieux, Jeff (18 November 2014). "Playoff Nostalgia: Khano Smith recalls the Revs' epic comeback vs. NY in 2005". Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Revolution Gets Past MetroStars". 30 October 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Smith looking forward to team-up with Ljungberg". Ontheminute.com. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Red Bulls acquire Khano Smith from Seattle," New York Red Bulls Media Relations, Thursday, 12 February 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Red Bulls waive Khano Smith", New York Red Bulls Reader, 30 July 2009.
  11. ^ http://www.sportsecho.co.uk/lincolncity/Bermudan-international-poised-sign-City/article-1412351-detail/article.html
  12. ^ Lincoln sign Bermuda winger Smith www.bbc.co.uk
  13. ^ Two depart Lincoln City[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ Revolution bring Khano Smith back, ink Serbian midfielder[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "RailHawks Announce Player Signings and Preseason Schedule". 7 March 2011.
  16. ^ "Khano in contract row with RailHawks | Bermuda Soccer". Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  17. ^ Khano Smith – FIFA competition record (archived)
  18. ^ Smith excited by coaching opportunity – Royal Gazette
  19. ^ "KHANO SMITH JOINS LEGION FC TECHNICAL STAFF". BHMLegion.com. Birmingham Legion FC. 18 December 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Rhode Island FC Names Khano Smith as Club's First Head Coach and General Manager". Rhode Island Football Club. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  21. ^ Johnson, Hugh. "Rhode Island FC's magical season ends in USL Championship final loss to Colorado Springs". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2024.