Goalkeeping, much like closing or quarterbacking, is about confidence. The confidence one inspires in his teammates; and the confidence one has in oneself. On both counts, U.S. National Team keeper Tim Howard measures up.
The North Brunswick (N.J.) High grad and ex-MetroStar has developed into one of the world’s best for both the United States and Everton. Since becoming the first choice in 2007, he’s helped a pedestrian American back four overachieve and will have to do so again for them to advance in this month’s World Cup.
“Are we the favorites to win a World Cup? I think we’re probably closer, but we’re still far away. But last year showed us a lot,” said Howard, 31. “It showed us that over the course of the competition we could play good teams with the pits and bumps and we can overcome those and do great things. We have players that can perform on that stage, and in that regard maybe 2010 [could be our year].”
The United States’ defense hasn’t exactly been airtight, giving up 13 goals in the last round of CONCACAF qualifying — the worst of the three teams to reach South Africa — and four in a May 25 tuneup to the Czechs that Howard sat out. But the sobering fact is without Howard in net, it would be worse. Far worse.
“It’s huge, especially as a defender, when you have someone like that behind you,” said captain Carlos Bocanegra. “You have the confidence to be aggressive knowing [there’s] someone behind who can pick you up. He’s a fantastic goalie, he does a great job of leading from behind, he speaks to the team and helps us get organized. He’s a great asset to our team.”
They’ll need him to deal with the likes of England’s Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in Saturday’s opener. But he’s used to facing them, plying his trade in the Premier League since arriving at iconic Manchester United in 2003, winning EPL Keeper of the Year that year and an FA Cup the next.
“Even at a young age Tim was a mature young man. But when you see him now, he’s got a great family, you can tell how proud he is,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. “He’s a great husband, great father, so you see the confidence in just how he comes across in who he is, what he’s all about. That’s so important in anybody.
“And on the field as a young goalkeeper he was capable of making big saves, he’s so athletic. As he’s moved along in his career he’s done incredibly well to still make those kind of saves, but also his reading of situations has matured.”
Bradley is right; part of that came at a young age, growing up as a mixed-raced child of a broken home, a Hungarian mother and black father, and dealing with Tourette syndrome as well.
But part came after he jumped right into the cauldron that is Old Trafford, eventually losing his job, being replaced by Dutch vet Edwin van der Sar and finally sold to Everton — where he, wife Laura and kids Jacob and Alivia have settled. Since backstopping the U.S. to the 2007 Gold Cup, he has waited for his chance on the biggest international stage, and now he’s prepared for it.
“It’s more than I even imagined it would’ve been. When I talked about that at 20, it was still a dream, still an unknown. There was a lot of hope and a lot of wishing,” said Howard, admitting of his United move “I know a lot of you were shaking your heads. I wasn’t ready, but what was I going to do, say don’t play me?
“It’s been good. I’ve learned a lot of lessons, I’ve grown up a lot, the experience of playing at Manchester United, the experience of playing behind Kasey [Keller] on the national team, playing behind Edwin van der Sar. I had my chance at United and getting another great chance at Everton that really has been so fruitful. It’s been awesome, a lot of fun. It’s more than I ever could’ve expected it to be.”
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised Howard, saying he only sold him because “the lad deserved to play.” And Des McAleenan — his goalkeeper coach with the MetroStars — says Howard is at the perfect place in his life and career to emerge as one of the biggest stars of the entire World Cup.
“He’s got a great confidence about him. He’s going to the World Cup and he’s at that stage in life now he’s enjoying it. He’s settled. Peoples’ personal background plays a big part in how they perform on the field, and I know he’s in a good marriage, he’s got a kid, and he’s in a good place,” McAleenan said. “I expect him to be one of the best keepers in the World Cup.
“People know [Iker] Casillas, [Gianluigi] Buffon, Julio Cesar because they’re playing for the biggest teams. But not everybody in the world that tunes in to the World Cup are going to know Tim Howard. But this is a real opportunity to step into that [elite] arena. In my book, he’s there already, but the casual fan is going to turn it on, catch World Cup fever .¤.¤. and see his talent.”