Derry native Christy Holly relishing leading Racing Louisville into their inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season

Holly, who is now at the helm of Racing Louisville ahead of their inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season in 2021, can vividly remember the petrol meter ticking towards zero as he dashed between coaching sessions while earning $125 a week; or the time he watched his wet socks fly out the window while trying to dry them in his “20 year old car” before going out onto the pitch to take another session.

That was circa 2007 when Holly first moved to the United States permanently and although the Culmore man admits it was a period of struggle, he believes it was that grind that has pushed him to where he is now.

“I was working with three to seven-year-olds and I was doing eight or nine hours a day on the field and then I would have to go home and get on the computer to do design sessions,” he explains.

“My younger brother asked me about it and I told him not to do it. I’m very fortunate now that I got a couple of breaks and ended up in different positions, but I can very easily get fired here after three months. It’s all about results.

“I was a head coach from 2015 to the end of 2017 and when I stepped down I swore I would never do it again. It’s a very stressful job and at the time you can really get caught up in it. It can be tough to remember why you’re doing it, which is because you love the challenge and the lack of comfort within it.

“It took 13 dogged years to get here but it’s not like you have job security. We have three World Cup winners going into next season, three Olympic gold medallists and we are trying to sign two more. There is a lot of strife and challenges that you’ve to go through but then there’s a moment you get on the pitch and are determined to make the hard work you’ve put in over the years pay off.”

And it’s clear that the hard work is paying off as Holly reaches behind his laptop and returns to shot accompanied by a World Cup medal. His last role prior to Head Coach of Racing Louisville was as Opposition Analyst for the United States national team who defeated the Netherlands in the 2019 final in France. He was tasked with producing detailed reports on what the team should expect – information which helped them navigate their way past the hosts and England in the semi-finals.

Holly refers to US manager, Jill Ellis, as ‘a mentor’ and he has drafted international stars Christen Press and Tobin Heath, who both play for Manchester United, at Louisville.

“I like the idea that you’re able to put yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable,” he adds, “That’s where you find out a lot about yourself. They are expecting the most detailed information on how they can get better as individuals and a collective but also on how they can beat the opposition.

“It was very challenging but so rewarding. There are nice bits like getting to travel and see the world but you have to be on your game or they will see right through you.”

The tactical side is what Holly enjoys most about the game and he keeps notes on “the top 15 sides in world football” while having an admiration for Marcelo Bielsa, Arsene Wenger and “genius” Southampton boss, Ralph Hasenhuttl. He is attempting to bring parts of all those that he studies and mix it with his own coaching philosophy to create something unique at Louisville.

“We are looking at ways we can do things differently. I feel like everyone can look to conform and blend in whereas I’m saying, let’s take a different approach and be very aggressive about it. There is a risk with that because we could fall flat on our face but I would rather go with principles that we feel strongly about and commit rather than do what everyone else is doing. There is no sense of ownership in doing what every other team does.”

Holly isn’t the only World Cup winner in his household as fiancée, Christie Pearc,e has won the competition twice and also lifted the Olympic title three times during a career in which she represented the USA on an astonishing 311 occasions.

Pearce is widely regarded as one of the finest female defenders of all-time and Holly admits having her alongside him is a massive help.

“She has been a massive influence. I’m going through a big project right now and I put it to her and she goes away and comes back with some information. The big thing for me as well is that she knows what it takes to be successful. She’s in New Jersey and I’m in Louisville which isn’t exactly next door. She completely appreciates the lifestyle, commitment and sacrifice that is needed to succeed so I’m very fortunate.”