Richard Gough

The son of a Swedish mother and Scottish father, Richard Gough spent his childhood in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he attended classes at Highlands North and the King Edward VII School. Following his father’s example, Richard Gough became a soccer player in the late 1970s. First playing for the Wits University Football Club, Richard Gough received a provisional contract with the Charlton Athletic Football Club. Richard Gough's first professional position came with Dundee United, a member of the Scottish Premier Division. For six seasons, Richard Gough functioned as Captain of the team, earning it a league championship in the 1982-1983 season. Then, for a year, Richard Gough assisted the English First Division team Tottenham Hotspur, sending them to the 1987 FA Cup Final; the team lost to Coventry City by one point. During this period, Richard Gough received honor as Scottish Football Player of the Year. The next ten seasons featured Richard Gough as Captain for the Scottish Premier League’s Rangers Football Club, and he received recognition for a second time as Scottish Football Player of the Year in 1989. For 9 of the 10 seasons, Richard Gough led the team to become League Champions. Later, Richard Gough served as Captain for two American soccer teams, the Kansas City Wizards and the San Jose Clash, and then returned to the United Kingdom to aid two Scottish Premier League organizations, the Nottingham Forest Football Club and the Everton Football Club. Following his retirement from playing the game, Richard Gough remained involved in the sport by accepting the position of Manager for the Livingston Football Club in 2004. With the Scottish Premier League team in danger of relegation, Richard Gough saved the soccer club from consignment during his seven months with it. Today, Richard Gough continues to involve himself with soccer as a freelance Specialist Defensive Coach, helping teams, such as the Los Angeles Galaxy, improve their performance in the sport. Also a freelance sportswriter and broadcaster, Richard Gough develops pieces for ESPN, Fox Sports, and newspapers throughout the United Kingdom.