Ezra Hendrickson
A trailblazing Caribbean footballer who transitioned from a solid MLS career to become a pioneering head coach for both club and country.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Vincentian association football player and head coach·Birthday: January 16·Generation X
Biography
Born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ezra Hendrickson carved out a formidable 12-year playing career in Major League Soccer, known for his aerial prowess as a defender. His leadership on the pitch was a natural precursor to his second act. After hanging up his boots, he embarked on a long coaching apprenticeship, serving as an assistant for several MLS clubs and earning a reputation for developing young talent. In 2021, he broke ground as the first Vincentian head coach in MLS history when he took the helm of the Chicago Fire. Though his tenure there was brief, his appointment was a landmark moment. He later returned to his roots, taking charge of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national team, aiming to instill professional discipline and tactical savvy in the side.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ezra was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ezra Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Ezra's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first head coach from St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Major League Soccer history with the Chicago Fire.
- Won three MLS Cup championships as a player with the LA Galaxy and D.C. United.
- Appointed manager of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national football team in 2023.
- Served as a key assistant coach for the Seattle Sounders during their 2016 MLS Cup victory.
Did You Know?
He scored the first goal in Columbus Crew history during the 1996 inaugural MLS season.
Standing at 6'3", he was known for his threat on set pieces, scoring 23 goals as a defender.
He played for six different MLS teams during his career.
“You earn respect on the training ground long before the stadium on Saturday.”
