Born in Plymouth, England, Nicky Law was destined for a life in soccer. After a long playing career across England, Scotland, and the United States, he now finds himself nearly 4,600 miles away from home, helping develop the next generations of talent at North Texas SC.
His dad, Nicky Law Sr., played professional soccer in England for 16 years, before transitioning into coaching. Nicky and his brother Josh were surrounded by soccer growing up and knew that they were both destined to have their own success in the sport.
“My dad was a professional soccer player. So growing up for me it was all about soccer,” Law said. “Me and my younger brother Josh would always go to our dad’s games and training sessions. Wherever he went, we always followed. As long as I can remember I always had a ball at my feet.”
Law started his soccer career with Sheffield United’s Academy, before making his senior debut in the League Cup against Reading on October 25, 2005. Just a month later, he found himself tasked with holding off a Manchester United attack featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Ryan Giggs – a surreal experience he won’t soon forget.
“It was amazing and unbelievable. I was 18 years old at that time and has just made my debut at 17,” Law recalls. “Playing against the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Neville and the rest of those guys is incredible. It was my first big moment but easily one of the best experiences of my life."
After years of playing in England and Scotland, Law reached a point in his career where his priorities changed. At 32, he decided to relocate with his family and continue his playing career in Indianapolis to join Indy Eleven in the USL Championship in 2021. His plan was to continue playing while also beginning to learn the game from a coaching perspective.
A season and a half later, Law joined the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the second half of the 2022 season. In 2023, he joined MLS NEXT Pro side Huntsville City FC during their inaugural season as a player coach. It was only a matter of time before the Englishman followed in his father’s footsteps and decided to pursue a full-time coaching career.
“I used to come to the U.S. with my brother for vacations. When Indy Eleven called, I knew it was an opportunity for something greater for my family and I,” Law explained. “After talking with my wife, we decided it was best to move over to the states. I knew there are opportunities to learn the game as a coach and help the game grow. That was something I wanted to do after my playing career. It’s a country that I grew to love and appreciate even more.”
Law’s first chance as a head coach came when he was appointed interim manager with the Rowdies. Soon after, he set his sights fully on coaching. Ahead of the 2025 season, North Texas SC head coach John Gall reached out, bringing Law onto his staff. Now, Law’s years of playing experience are being channeled into mentoring and guiding the next line of stars at NTSC, while continuing to grow in the coaching side.
“This sport has led me here to FC Dallas and North Texas SC,” Law said. “John and I have followed each other’s career for a while now and when he called, I couldn’t say no. I have been in the game for so long as a player, but now I’m learning new things as a coach thanks to him.”
