Willy Roy, a former US Men’s National Team player, NASL All-Star and Chicago Sting Coach is the recipient of the 2025 Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award.

Upon being notified of his selection Willy Roy said, “I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award. I had the opportunity to play against Walt Chyzowych years ago. I knew that his hard work on the field and his commitment to coaching was a belief we both shared. I consider myself very fortunate to be part of this group of honored past recipients. I would like to acknowledge and thank my family, my teammates, my players and my colleagues over the years who supported me during my playing and coaching career and thank the Walt Chyzowych Fund for all it is doing to support the continued growth and development of soccer in the United States.”

Willy Roy emigrated to the United States with his family as a thirteen-year-old. His high school did not have a soccer program, so he joined their wrestling team and became a High School State Champion followed by All-American honors at the University of Illinois. He played semi-pro soccer in the Chicago area for Chicago Hansa, 1965-66 US Open Cup finalist before losing to the New York Ukrainians.

Roy made twenty (20) appearances for the United States National Team scoring nine goals between 1965 and 1973. During that time he played for NPSL and NASL teams in Chicago, Kansas City and Saint Louis, scoring 31 goals in 89 games. He was named NASL Rookie of the Year in 1967 during which he was a first team All-Star and was also named NASL Coach of the Year in 1981.

Roy became head coach of the Chicago Sting in 1979 after serving two seasons as Assistant Coach. His 1981 team posted a 23-9 record and won the NASL Championship Soccer Bowl. A second NASL championship was won in 1984.

Among Roy’s players on the Chicago Sting were Dick Advocaat who went on to become the head coach of the Netherlands and Greg Ryan who coached the USA’s national women’s team. Willy Roy also had a fifteen-year coaching career at Northern Illinois University. He was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989.