Khano Smith

Khano Smith (born 10 January 1981) is a Bermudian retired footballer who is serving as a head coach and general manager for USL Championship club Rhode Island FC.

Club career

College and amateur Smith played college soccer at Champlain College and Lees-McRae College, and in the USL Premier Development League for Carolina Dynamo.

Professional career Smith began his professional career playing for the Dandy Town Hornets, who he helped win the 2003–04 Cingular Wireless Premier Division title in his first year at the club. In his second season, he led the league in scoring as Dandy Town finished two points behind Devonshire Cougars. He captured his second trophy with the club in 2005 leading the Hornets to the Bermuda Champions Cup.

After two successful seasons in Bermuda, he moved to Major League Soccer and signed with the New England Revolution on April 15, 2005. He made his first start, and scored his first goal, on 4 June 2005 during a 1–1 tie with the Kansas City Wizards. Smith also scored the winning goal against the MetroStars which led the Revolution to the MLS Conference Championship in 2005. He came to be known in New England for his inconsistent play, showing occasional flashes of brilliance, but also making fundamental mistakes. He was also known for his pace and his crucial crosses which pick out his teammates for easy finishes.

He moved from an out and out striker to an attacking left wing back. In 2007 and 2008 he was the regular starter on the left wing and scored several crucial goals.

On 26 November 2008, Smith was selected by Seattle Sounders FC with the fourth pick in the 2008 MLS Expansion Draft. Before ever playing a match for the Sounders, he was traded to New York Red Bulls in exchange for allocation money. On 30 July 2009 New York waived Smith.

After trialing with Southend United, and playing for their reserves in a 4–0 defeat to Norwich City reserves in September 2009, Smith was offered a professional contract at Lincoln City, having impressed new manager Chris Sutton on a 10-day trial. On 23 October Smith was reported to have signed a 'short-term' deal with Lincoln.

Smith became an instant first team regular at Lincoln. However, he was dropped after six games, his final one coming in an FA Cup game at Northwich Victoria. He was released when his contract expired on 7 January 2010.

Smith re-signed with New England Revolution on 26 March 2010 after trialing with the team during pre-season.

After the 2010 Major League Soccer season New England declined Smith's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Smith became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft. On 7 March 2011 he signed with Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League. However, Smith was not listed on the 2011 roster released by the club on 4 April 2011. In an interview with Bermuda's The Royal Gazette on 7 April, Smith stated he would not play for Carolina due to a contract dispute.

International career Smith made his debut for Bermuda in a December 2003 friendly match against Barbados and earned a total of 33 caps, scoring 10 goals. He represented his country in 13 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

Career statistics International

Scores and results list Bermuda's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Smith goal.

Managerial career

Smith was named assistant coach for Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League in December 2015. On 18 December 2018, Smith joined the technical staff of expansion club Birmingham Legion FC ahead of their first season in the USL Championship.

Smith was announced as the first-ever head coach and general manager of Rhode Island FC on March 8, 2023. Smith coached Rhode Island FC to the 5th seed in the regular season, and a loss in the Championship Final in their first season as a club. They lost to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 3-0 in the final.

Honors

Dandy Town Hornets Cingular Wireless Premier Division Champion (1): 2004 Bermuda Champions Cup (1): 2004–05

New England Revolution Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1): 2007 North American SuperLiga (1): 2008

Individual Cingular Wireless Premier Division Top Scorer: 2005