Richie Burke has stepped down as head coach of the Washington Spirit, the club announced on Tuesday. A team press release suggested that assistant coaches Kris Ward and Paul Crichton will lead the team in the interim. Per the Spirit, Burke informed the team of health concerns on Monday and the parties agreed that he would step down and be re-assigned to the team’s front office upon his return.
“Yesterday Richie advised me of some health concerns and we mutually agreed that it was in the best interests of him and of the club for him to step down as our coach. Once Richie’s health improves, he will join the sporting operations front office staff,” Spirit president of sporting operations Larry Best said.
The Spirit are currently 5-5-3 and in seventh place, only three points behind second-place North Carolina Courage.
Burke took over as Spirit head coach ahead of the 2019 season, leading the team to a fifth-place finish that year, just outside the playoff line.
Best said that searches have begun for an interim head coach and the next permanent head coach.
This story will be updated.
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