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{{short description|Vincentian association football player and head coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ezra Hendrickson
| image = EzraHendrickson20041017.jpg
| caption = Hendrickson playing for [[D.C. United]] in 2004
| fullname = Ezra Hendrickson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|1|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Layou]], Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| height = 1.91 m
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| collegeyears1 = 1990–1993
| college1 = [[Drake Bulldogs men's soccer|Drake Bulldogs]]
| collegecaps1 = 
| collegegoals1 = 
| years1 = 1994
| clubs1 = [[Des Moines Menace]]
| caps1 = 
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1995–1996
| clubs2 = [[New Orleans Storm|New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers]]
| caps2 = 30
| goals2 = 9
| years3 = 1997
| clubs3 = [[New York Red Bulls|NY/NJ MetroStars]]
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1997–2003
| clubs4 = [[LA Galaxy|Los Angeles Galaxy]]
| caps4 = 139
| goals4 = 17
| years5 = 2003
| clubs5 = [[FC Dallas|Dallas Burn]]
| caps5 = 16
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2004
| clubs6 = [[Charleston Battery]]
| caps6 = 5
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2004
| clubs7 = [[D.C. United]]
| caps7 = 12
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2005–2006
| clubs8 = [[Chivas USA]]
| caps8 = 31
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2006–2008
| clubs9 = [[Columbus Crew]]
| caps9 = 60
| goals9 = 1
| totalcaps = 301
| totalgoals = 32
| nationalyears1 = 1995–2008
| nationalteam1 = [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
| nationalcaps1 = 36
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| manageryears1 = 2009–2014
| managerclubs1 = [[Seattle Sounders FC]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2015–2018
| managerclubs2 = [[Tacoma Defiance|Seattle Sounders FC 2]]
| manageryears3 = 2015–2018
| managerclubs3 = [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]] (assistant)
| manageryears4 = 2018
| managerclubs4 = [[LA Galaxy]] (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 2019–2021
| managerclubs5 = [[Columbus Crew]] (assistant)
| manageryears6 = 2022–2023 
| managerclubs6 = [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]]
| manageryears7 = 2024–
| managerclubs7 = [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
}}
'''Ezra Hendrickson''' (born 16 January 1972) is a [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Vincentian]] professional [[association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|coach]] and former player. He was the head coach of [[Major League Soccer]] club [[Chicago Fire FC]] from November 24, 2021, until his dismissal on May 8, 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=chicagofirefc |title=Chicago Fire FC Parts Ways with Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson {{!}} Chicago Fire FC |url=https://www.chicagofirefc.com/news/chicago-fire-fc-parts-ways-with-head-coach-ezra-hendrickson |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=chicagofirefc |language=en}}</ref> and is now the manager of the [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Vincentian national team]].

Born in [[Layou]], Hendrickson moved with his family to the United States at a young age and played [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] with the [[Drake Bulldogs men's soccer|Drake Bulldogs]]. A [[Defender (association football)|defender]], he began his senior career with semi-professional clubs [[Des Moines Menace]] and [[New Orleans Storm|New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers]] before being drafted in the [[1997 MLS Supplemental Draft]] by the [[New York Red Bulls|NY/NJ MetroStars]]. He was cut midseason by the MetroStars before joining the [[LA Galaxy|Los Angeles Galaxy]]. While with the Galaxy, Hendrickson formed part of the defense that would go on to win the [[Supporters' Shield]] in [[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]] and then both the Shield and [[MLS Cup]] in [[MLS Cup 2002|2002]]. In 2003, Hendrickson was traded by the Galaxy to the [[FC Dallas|Dallas Burn]].

Following the [[2003 Major League Soccer season|2003 season]], Hendrickson joined [[A-League (1995–2004)|A-League]] club [[Charleston Battery]] before quickly moving back to Major League Soccer, joining [[D.C. United]]. With D.C. United, Hendrickson won his second MLS Cup but was an unused substitute during the [[MLS Cup 2004|match]]. He then moved to [[Chivas USA]] before joining the [[Columbus Crew]] in 2006. Hendrickson ended his playing career in 2008, winning both his third [[MLS Cup 2008|MLS Cup]] and second Supporters' Shield. He was also capped 36 times for the [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national team]], scoring two goals internationally.

In 2009, Hendrickson began his coaching career, joining Major League Soccer expansion club [[Seattle Sounders FC]] as an assistant to his former head coach, [[Sigi Schmid]]. While an assistant, he would often coach the club's reserve side, finally becoming the first head coach of their professional reserve affiliate, [[Tacoma Defiance|Seattle Sounders FC 2]], in 2015. While coaching with Sounders FC 2, Hendrickson was also an assistant with the Vincentian national team. He left both roles in 2018, returning as an assistant to Sigi Schmid with the [[LA Galaxy]]. From 2019 to 2021, he joined the [[Columbus Crew]] as an assistant to [[Caleb Porter]] before being announced as the head coach of the [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] for the [[2022 Chicago Fire FC season|2022 season]].

==Early life==
Hendrickson was born in [[Layou]], [[Saint Vincent (island)|St. Vincent]]. He played club soccer and varsity basketball at [[Western High School (Russiaville, Indiana)|Western High School]] in [[Russiaville, Indiana]]. He then played [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] at [[Drake University]] from 1990 to 1993, where he was named all-[[Missouri Valley Conference]] three times, and was named an [[National Soccer Coaches Association of America|NSCAA]] third team All-American as a senior.

Upon graduating, Hendrickson joined the amateur [[Des Moines Menace]] in 1994, where he played [[Striker (association football)|striker]], scoring 13 goals in his first year. After a season with the Menace, Hendrickson was signed to a professional contract by the [[New Orleans Storm|New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers]] of the [[USISL]]. Hendrickson played for the Riverboat Gamblers, and was named Select League Defender of the Year in 1996.

==Professional career==
After his exceptional 1996 season, Hendrickson was drafted 5th overall in the [[1997 MLS Supplemental Draft]] by the [[MetroStars|New York/New Jersey MetroStars]], for whom he played eight matches in 1997. During his time with NY/NJ, fans gave him the nickname 'The Caribbean Beckenbauer'. Midseason, Hendrickson was cut and picked up by the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]], where he solidified his role as a starter, and earn a reputation as one of the best wing backs in MLS. After seven seasons with the Galaxy, Hendrickson was traded to the [[FC Dallas|Dallas Burn]] in 2003.

When the Burn reorganised the team following their 2003 campaign, Hendrickson found himself without a team in MLS, and briefly signed with the [[Charleston Battery]] of the [[USL First Division|A-League]]. However, not long into the 2004 season, [[D.C. United]] acquired him to play a backup role in their central defence. Hendrickson was selected fifth overall by [[Chivas USA|C.D. Chivas USA]] in the [[2004 MLS Expansion Draft|Expansion Draft]] after the season. After a year with Chivas, he was on a move again, sent to Columbus early in the 2006 season. He retired after helping the Crew to its first MLS title during the 2008 season.<ref name="FIFA-quits">{{cite web|publisher=FIFA|title=MLS veteran EZ calls it quits|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=989233.html#mls+veteran+ez+calls+quits|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207165623/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=989233.html#mls+veteran+ez+calls+quits|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2009|date=8 January 2009}}</ref>

==International==
Hendrickson also spent time as the captain of the [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national team]], and was one of the team's best players since earning his first cap in 1995 against [[Barbados national football team|Barbados]]. He made 24 appearances for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] qualifiers<ref>{{FIFA player|158560}}</ref> and 123 overall,<ref name="FIFA-quits" /> scoring twice during a  [[1996 Caribbean Cup]] match against [[Haiti national football team|Haiti]] on 27 May 1996.<ref name=Goals>{{cite web|title=Goals|url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/haiti-v-saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines-27-may-1996-246678/|publisher=11 v 11|access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref>

:''Scores and results list  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hendrickson goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Ezra Hendrickson 
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|27 May 1996}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Manny Ramjohn Stadium]], [[San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago|San Fernando]], Trinidad and Tobago
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Haiti}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–2
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–2
|rowspan="2"|[[1996 Caribbean Cup]]
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Haiti vs. Saint Vincent & Grenadines|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27085/Haiti_Saint_Vincent_Grenadines.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|style="text-align:center"|2–2
|}

==Coaching career==
After retiring, Hendrickson joined the staff of [[Seattle Sounders FC]], working as an assistant to his former coach, [[Sigi Schmid]]. After managing the Sounders reserves for several seasons, he was named head coach for [[Seattle Sounders FC 2]] upon the club's entry into the [[United Soccer League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2014/11/13/sounders-fc-2-names-ezra-hendrickson-first-head-coach-team-history|title=Sounders FC 2 Names Ezra Hendrickson First Head Coach in Team History|publisher=MLS|date=13 November 2014|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

===Chicago Fire===
On 24 November 2021, Hendrickson was appointed head coach at [[Major League Soccer]] club [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] from the [[2022 Chicago Fire FC season|2022 season]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Chicago Fire name Ezra Hendrickson as coach |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/major-league-soccer/story/4529498/chicago-fire-name-ezra-hendrickson-as-coach |access-date=14 December 2021 |work=ESPN |date=24 November 2021}}</ref>

On May 8, 2023, with the club in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference through 10 matches, the Fire announced that Hendrickson had been relieved of his duties, along with assistant coach [[Junior Gonzalez (soccer)|Junior Gonzalez]].

==Coaching statistics==
{{updated|15 November 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
! rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |From
! rowspan="2"|To
! colspan="8" |Record
!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]]
|align=left|24 November 2021
|align=left|8 May 2023
{{WDL|46|13|15|18|for=57|against=66|diff=yes}}
|
|-
|align=left|[[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines national football team|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
|align=left|15 August 2024
|align=left|''Present''
{{WDL|18|10|4|4|for=39|against=19|diff=yes}}
|<ref>{{NFT coach|5603|access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
!colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|64|23|19|22|for=96|against=85|diff=yes}}
!—
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Los Angeles Galaxy'''
* [[CONCACAF]]: Champions Cup 2000
* [[MLS Cup]]: [[MLS Cup 2002|2002]]
* [[Supporters' Shield]]: [[1998 Major League Soccer season|1998]], [[2002 Major League Soccer season|2002]]

'''D.C. United'''
* [[MLS Cup]]: [[MLS Cup 2004|2004]]

'''Columbus Crew'''
* [[MLS Cup]]: [[MLS Cup 2008|2008]]
* [[Supporters' Shield]]: [[2008 Major League Soccer season|2008]]

'''Individual'''
* [[United Soccer League|USISL Select League]] Defender of the Year: [[1996 USISL Select League|1996]]<ref>{{cite web |title=USISL 1996 Defender of the Year |url=http://soccerstats.us/awards/299/ |website=SoccerStats.us}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Sports links}}

{{Chicago Fire managers}}
{{Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Squad 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hendrickson, Ezra}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Charleston Battery players]]
[[Category:Chivas USA players]]
[[Category:Columbus Crew players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:FC Dallas players]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:Des Moines Menace players]]
[[Category:Drake Bulldogs men's soccer players]]
[[Category:LA Galaxy players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:New York Red Bulls players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers players]]
[[Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines men's footballers]]
[[Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:USISL players]]
[[Category:A-League (1995–2004) players]]
[[Category:USL Second Division players]]
[[Category:USISL Select League players]]
[[Category:New York Red Bulls draft picks]]
[[Category:Seattle Sounders FC non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:People from Saint Andrew Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
[[Category:Tacoma Defiance coaches]]
[[Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines football managers]]
[[Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Columbus Crew non-playing staff]]
[[Category:LA Galaxy non-playing staff]]
[[Category:People from Howard County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Indiana]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Champions Cup–winning players]]