22- Josh McKay
Left backs have long been the white whales of American soccer. They are so difficult to find, and when a good one does come your way, latch on for dear life. That’s what the Kickers were fortunate to be able to do in the late 20th century with Josh McKay. For six seasons, McKay was a constant on the left side of the field, and primarily in defense for Kickers teams that were regularly near, if not at, the top of their division. For his longevity and impact, McKay comes in at #22 in our rankings of the Greatest Kickers of All-Time.
A native of California, McKay attended the University of San Francisco after spending one season at UNLV. He graduated in 1994, and played in 1995 for the Hawaii Tsunami (what an experience that must have been!). McKay got drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the inaugural MLS Draft, spending the 1996 season with them and making four appearances. The Kickers were able to acquire his services following that season, and he arrived with a bang in the 1997 season, recording 4 goals and 2 assists in 27 games. McKay continued to be a constant along the backline as the Kickers consistently ranked among the elite defenses in the A-League. While he never replicated his offensive contribution from his first season in Richmond, McKay did ultimately appear for the Kickers 136 times in league play through the 2002 season. During this time the Kickers won a regular season championship, made Open Cup runs into the quarterfinals, and finished runner-up in an extra-time heartbreaker.
McKay retired following the 2002 season and returned to the west coast, joining his alma mater as an assistant coach. He spent 11 seasons on the staff there, rising to the position of Associate Head Coach before departing in 2014. During that time the team won three conference championships and made four appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Josh currently owns McKay’s Taphouse and Beer Garden in Pleasanton, California.
