|
Tim Howard
Player
Profile
Tim is the son of an African-American father and a Hungarian
mother who emigrated to the United States after the 1956
revolution. He grew up poor in New Jersey. Howard started his pro
career immediately after high school, playing with the North
Jersey Imperials of the USISL.
He was signed by Major League Soccer in 1998 and was assigned to
the MetroStars, for whom he played until 2003. Tim backed up
first Tony Meola and then Mike Ammann, but became the starting
goalkeeper as the latter was traded before the 2001 season.
Although he often played behind an atrocious Metro defense,
Howard showed amazing skill, and his athleticism was unmatched.
Tim was named MLS's Goalkeeper of the Year in 2001 and to the
league's Best XI in 2001 and 2002.
Manchester United signed Howard in the middle of the 2003 MLS
season, and he replaced French international Fabien Barthez as
the club's first-choice goalkeeper. He started off very well at
Manchester United, saving the decisive penalty in the Community
Shield against Arsenal. However, later in the season Howard
suffered from loss of form, starting with the blunder that handed
a goal to F.C. Porto, eliminating United from the UEFA Champions
League. After a period of rest, Howard reclaimed his starting
position ahead of Roy Carroll for the 2004 FA Cup Final, picking
up a winner's medal. He was the first American to do so.
Howard was also named in the PFA Best XI in his first season at
Manchester United, making him the only United player in the team.
In his second year with Manchester United, he shared the
goalkeeping duties with Carroll, as a number of high-profile
errors from both players made it impossible for Sir Alex Ferguson
to choose between the two with any consistency.
At the end of the season, Howard signed a new contract, which
runs until 2009. In the summer of 2005, Manchester United
released both of his competitors for the goalkeeper position
– Ricardo 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.
In May 2006 a deal was agreed between Manchester United and
Everton F.C that would see Howard join the merseyside giants on
loan for the 06/07 season.
