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Tim Howard
Howard in 2011
Personal information
Full name Timothy Matthew Howard
Date of birth (1979-03-06) March 6, 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth North Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1][2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Everton
Number 24
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 North Jersey Imperials 16 (0)
1998–2003 MetroStars 88 (0)
2003–2007 Manchester United 45 (0)
2006–2007Everton (loan) 25 (0)
2007– Everton 226 (1)
International career
2002– United States 85 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of match played 23 February 2013[3]
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 9, 2013

Timothy Matthew "Tim" Howard (born March 6, 1979) is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team.

Howard started his career with the North Jersey Imperials before making a move to the MetroStars. His appearances soon attracted the attention of Manchester United, who signed him in 2003. He enjoyed relative success with them as they won the 2003 FA Community Shield, the 2003–04 FA Cup and the 2005–06 League Cup. However, after United signed Edwin van der Sar, Howard went out on loan to Everton to play more first-team football and eventually signed permanently with them in February 2007. On January 4, 2012, Howard scored a goal and his first as a professional footballer against Bolton Wanderers. This made him the fourth goalkeeper to score a goal in a Premier League match.[4]

Howard first represented the United States national team in 2002 and was an unused substitute for the 2006 World Cup. He later established himself as first-choice and started all of the United States' games at the 2010 World Cup as they reached the Round of 16.

Early years

Howard was born in North Brunswick, New Jersey,[5] to Matthew Howard – an African American, and Esther Howard (née Fekete),[6] a native of Hungary. His parents divorced when he was three years old, and Howard lived with his mother, a project manager for a cosmetics distributor. His father, a long-distance truck driver for a health care firm, nonetheless maintained a presence in his life. His father was determined to get Howard and his brother, Chris, involved in sports. Before the two could walk, he bought them equipment for various sports to see which games they preferred. Tim showed a preference for basketball and soccer.

Howard was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome when he was in the sixth grade.[7] Before Howard was a teenager, Tim Mulqueen, a one time assistant coach for the United States men's national under-17 soccer team, saw his potential at a soccer camp Howard attended and took the boy under his wing.

In high school, Howard proved a star not only in soccer as a midfielder, but also on the basketball court, where he averaged 15 points per game and helped bring his team to the state finals in his senior year. However his talent and abilities as a soccer player were far more impressive. Despite his position on his high school team, Howard was a far better goalkeeper than he was a midfielder. Howard spent the first years of high school attending Montclair Kimberley Academy, a small private school in Montclair, New Jersey.[8] Howard left MKA in his junior year to go back to North Brunswick where he grew up, and graduated from North Brunswick Township High School. By the age of fifteen he began playing in goal for U.S. youth national teams. He made his international debut against Honduras on the U-17 squad. In 1997 Mulqueen became the coach of the North Jersey Imperials, a team in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues (USISL), and served as the goalkeeping coach for Major League Soccer's MetroStars; he immediately considered Howard for a position on the Imperials. In May of that year, a month before graduating from high school, Howard played for the Imperials in his first professional game.

Club career

MetroStars

After only six appearances with the USISL's North Jersey Imperials, Tim Mulqueen, who at the time was the New York/New Jersey MetroStar's goalkeeper coach, brought Howard up from the Imperials to the MetroStars.

Howard was victorious in his MLS debut with the MetroStars on August 18, 1998, making five saves in a 4–1 win over Colorado at Giants Stadium (his only appearance of the year). He later played in one game with the Nike Project-40 Team, a 3–1 win over the Staten Island Vipers at Giants Stadium on May 6, 1998.

With the MetroStars during the 1999 MLS season, he made eight starts in nine contests. Howard had a 1.58 GAA and won just one match in a season in which the Metros won just seven games. He also spent most of the international season with the U.S. Under-20 MNT, leaving the club to compete in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in April and the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg in July.

Howard posted a 5–2–2 record with a 1.59 GAA in 2000, splitting time between the MetroStars and the U.S. Olympic Team, also winning all three of his U.S. Open Cup starts that season.

In 2001, he became the youngest player to win the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, recording four shutouts and a league-leading 146 saves, and was named to the MLS All-Star Team. Howard played every minute of every MetroStars game, and finished the year with a 1.33 GAA, four shutouts and a 13–10–3 record. He also received the MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award.

Howard played in 27 of 28 regular season games in 2002 for the MetroStars, recording four shutouts.

Before leaving the MetroStars in 2003, he appeared in thirteen games and had three clean sheets as the club challenged for first place during the season’s first half.

Manchester United

Manchester United paid a $4 million transfer fee to sign Howard in the middle of the 2003 MLS season, and he replaced Fabien Barthez as the club's first-choice goalkeeper.[9] He started off very well at Manchester United, saving the decisive penalty in the Community Shield against Arsenal. Other notable performances followed, including Bolton Wanderers and a home FA Cup tie victory over Manchester City. However, in March 2004, Howard's poor parry handed a last minute goal to FC Porto, eliminating United from the UEFA Champions League. The error appeared to shatter Howard's confidence and he was replaced by Roy Carroll. After a period of rest, Howard reclaimed his starting position ahead of Carroll for the 2004 FA Cup Final, picking up a winner's medal. He was the second American player to collect a winner's medal in the FA Cup, after Julian Sturgis of Wanderers F.C. in the 1873 final. Howard was also named in the PFA Best XI in his first season at Manchester United.

In his second season with Manchester United, he started poorly, making several errors and was dropped again for Carroll. After Carroll made several errors as well, Howard forced his way back in but his performances were unconvincing, leading to Carroll regaining his place again, playing in the FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal.

At the end of the 2004–05 season, Howard signed a new contract, which was to run until 2009. In the summer of 2005, Manchester United released both of his competitors for the goalkeeper position — Ricardo López Felipe and Carroll. However, they also bought experienced Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar soon after. An uncharacteristically outspoken Howard fumed in an interview that he would not have signed the new contract had he known Van der Sar was on his way to United (Van der Sar replaced Howard as first choice goalkeeper). He felt that he had done enough to remain as the first choice goalkeeper at the club.

Everton

Howard joined Everton on loan for the 2006–07 season and made his debut for the club against Watford on the opening day of the season. He signed a permanent deal with the club in February 2007 for a fee reported to be worth around £3 million.[citation needed]

In April 2007, Everton faced Manchester United at Goodison Park. Howard did not participate in the game, and there was some speculation that this came from a clause in his loan contract, even though a permanent deal had since been agreed.[citation needed] The Football Association investigated the allegation but found that neither Manchester United nor Everton had broken any rules regarding Howard's transfer and that both clubs had confirmed that Everton had been free to play Howard against Manchester United if they had wished to do so.[10] He made his 100th appearance for Everton against West Ham United, on November 8, 2008. On April 19, 2009, in the FA Cup semi final, he saved two penalties against his former club Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out to send Everton to the final against Chelsea. During the 2008–09 season Howard set the club record for most league match clean sheets in a season. Howard started the 2009–10 season with four consecutive clean sheets, including away to Portsmouth where he helped his team secure a 1–0 win and claimed the Man of the Match award for his performance[citation needed]. Howard captained Everton for the first time in a 3–3 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on December 12, 2009.[11]

"It was cruel. You saw the back fours and the keepers not being able to believe balls all night, and at the back one wrong step and it can be a nightmare. For our goal I was disappointed from a goalkeepers' union standpoint. You never want to see that happen. It's not nice, it's embarrassing, so I felt for Adam but you have to move on from it."

Tim Howard, on his first goal.

During the 2011–12 season, Howard scored his first goal in professional football in a 2–1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers. His wind-assisted 102-yard clearance at Goodison Park made him only the fourth goalkeeper to score in a Premier League match since its formation in 1992.[12] He described his goal as "cruel" and refused to celebrate out of sympathy for his beaten opposite number, Ádám Bogdán.[13]

On March 2012 Howard agreed a new contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2016.[14] On 2 March 2013, Howard's run of 210 consecutive Premier League appearances dating back to September 2007 came to an end as he missed a game against Reading with a finger injury.[15] He was two games short of equalling Neville Southall's club record.[16]

International career

Howard speaks with D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid before an international friendly on July 23, 2011 at RFK Stadium
Howard makes a save during training for the US national team, May 2006

Howard started for the United States national team in the 1999 World Youth Championship in Nigeria and was a backup to Brad Friedel at the 2000 Summer Olympics. On March 10, 2002, he received his first senior cap, against Ecuador. On May 2, 2006, Howard was named as one of three goalkeepers on the U.S. roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, but served as a backup to Kasey Keller. Howard has become the team's first choice goalkeeper under Bob Bradley and started in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, a 2–1 win over Mexico.

He was the starting goalkeeper for the 2009 Confederations Cup, including the semifinal in which the U.S. upset Spain, then the number one-ranked team in the world. Howard's eight saves earned him his first clean sheet of the tournament and the first shutout of the Spanish side since 2007. Following the United States' second place finish in the tournament, Howard was awarded the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper.[17]

Howard was the starting goalkeeper for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in South Africa, and turned in a Man of the Match performance against England in his first World Cup appearance.[18] Howard's distribution to Landon Donovan led to the game-winning goal of the last first round game against Algeria, giving the US passage into the round of 16. He conceded two goals when United States lost their round of 16 game against Ghana.

After the 2011 Gold Cup Final, Howard made a controversial statement regarding the post-match ceremony. The trophy presentation was conducted entirely in Spanish, despite the tournament being held in the United States. Howard went on to say that it was a "disgrace" and commented further that if the final had been in Mexico City and the United States had won, the ceremony would not have been made in English.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 February 2013.
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[20] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
North Jersey Imperials 1997 16 0 16 0
Total 16 0 16 0
New York/New Jersey
MetroStars
1998 1 0
1999 9 0
2000 9 0
2001 29 0
2002 27 0
2003 13 0
Total 88 0 88 0
Manchester United 2003–04 32 0 4 0 0 0 7 0 1 0 44 0
2004–05 12 0 4 0 5 0 5 0 1 0 27 0
2005–06 1 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Total 45 0 10 0 8 0 12 0 2 0 77 0
Everton (loan) 2006–07 25 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 27 0
Everton 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
2007–08 36 0 0 0 3 0 8 0 0 0 47 0
2008–09 38 0 7 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 48 0
2009–10 38 0 2 0 2 0 9 0 0 0 51 0
2010–11 38 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 0
2011–12 38 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 1
2012–13 27 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 0
Total 251 1 24 0 7 0 19 0 0 0 301 1
Career total 400 1 34 0 15 0 31 0 2 0 482 1

International

[21]

United States national team
Year Apps Goals
2002 2 0
2003 7 0
2004 3 0
2005 2 0
2006 2 0
2007 10 0
2008 9 0
2009 13 0
2010 9 0
2011 15 0
Total 72 0

Honors

Club

Manchester United

International

United States

Individual

Basketball

On June 22, 2009, Howard was drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters exhibition basketball team.[22] Each year the team lists a number of athletes seen as potential players and ambassadors. “Globetrotters must be great athletes, great entertainers and outstanding citizens,” said Globetrotters Coach Sweet Lou Dunbar. “We believe each of these individuals possess enough of those unique dynamics to merit our consideration to wear the red, white and blue.”

Personal life

Howard was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome[23] in middle school. He was named MLS Humanitarian of the Year in 2001 for his work with children with Tourette's. He is also involved with Athletes in Action, a ministry arm of Campus Crusade for Christ.[24] He is married to Laura Howard with whom he has two children.

References

  • Staff (April 2006) "Tim Howard 1979–" Biography Today 15(2): pp. 60–70
  • Biography from Current Biography (2005), Copyright (c) by The H. W. Wilson Company. All rights reserved.

References

  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. pp. 209–210. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2008). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2008–2009. London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 471. ISBN 978-0-7553-1820-9.
  3. ^ United Soccer Leagues (USL). Uslsoccer.com. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  4. ^ "Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard scores freak goal". BBC. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  5. ^ Hayes, Dean (2009). Manchester United: The Football Facts. London: John Blake Publishing. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-84454-795-1.
  6. ^ Nemzeti Sport: Tim Howard. Nemzetisport.hu (February 21, 2010). Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  7. ^ ESPN New York: Biggest fan backs Howard on big stage. Sports.espn.go.com (June 18, 2010). Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  8. ^ "MKA's Riddick has unique view as she watches surging Mounties". The Montclair Times. May 20, 2005. Retrieved February 2, 2009. [dead link]
  9. ^ Hale, Ellen (January 22, 2004). "American goalie rises to top of soccer world". USA Today. Manchester, England. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  10. ^ "Premier League drops Howard probe". BBC Sport. May 6, 2007. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
  11. ^ "Howard, Jagielka, Yobo pen Toffees deals". ESPN Soccernet. June 3, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  12. ^ "Tim Howard scores for Everton". NBC Sports. January 5, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  13. ^ Hunter, Andy (January 5, 2012). "Tim Howard feels sympathy for Bolton goalkeeper after 'cruel' goal". The Guardian. London.
  14. ^ "Tim Howard signs new Everton contract until 2016". BBC Sport. March 8, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  15. ^ "Injury casts doubt on Howard's Everton record attempt Read more at http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1359225/tim-howard%27s-everton-record-attempt-under-threat-through#6pG2iwkz5P4dw52q.99". ESPN (UK). Retrieved March 2, 2013. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  16. ^ "Banners for Benitez just bananas". ESPN (UK). Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  17. ^ "FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009: Awards". FIFA. 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
  18. ^ "2010 FIFA World Cup Roster". U.S. Soccer. 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
  19. ^ Melville, Adrian (August 10, 2011). "A conflict of interest?". Forbes. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  20. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  21. ^ .. Player – Tim Howard. National Football Teams (March 6, 1979). Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  22. ^ "Oh Brother! Globetrotters Draft Taylor Griffin". Harlem Globetrotters. June 22, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  23. ^ "New Public Service Announcement for Tourette Syndrome awareness features soccer star Tim Howard" (Press release). Bayside, New York: Tourette Syndrome Association. January 18, 2005. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
  24. ^ Lawrence, Chris (May/June 2006). "The Keeper". Worldwide Challenge. Vol. 33, no. 3. Campus Crusade for Christ International. Retrieved February 12, 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

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