Tim Howard - Manchester Utd (Loan to Everton) & USA - Goalkeeper Spotlights

Tim Howard Stats
D.O.B.	03/06/1979
Nationality	United States
Height	6ft 2inches

Profile

Born on 3 June 1979, the six feet two inch American international keeper joined the Reds from the New York/New Jersey Metrostars, with whom he had spent five seasons.

Tim has won numerous awards in his native USA including Aquafina Goalkeeper of the Year, New York Life Humanitarian of the Year and Nickelodeon GAS Player of the Year.

Tim is perhaps known as much for suffering from Tourette's Syndrome as he is for playing in goal. He is involved in creating awareness for the disorder which causes its sufferers to make rapid and involuntary tics and vocalizations and was named on the Board of Directors of the Tourette Syndrome Association of New Jersey in 12 November 2001.

Tim gained some valuable European experience in November 1998 when he spent some time in Italy, training with AC Milan.

A member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in Sydney, he was called up to the senior national team in 2001 for friendlies against Ecuador (6 July 2001) and South Korea (12 September 2001). In March 2002, he helped the USA to beat Ecuador for the first time in their history, keeping a clean sheet in a warm-up match for the World Cup finals.

Standing six feet two inches tall, Tim's frame is not only suited to football - he was rated one of the best basketball players in America's Major Soccer League.

Interview (29th November 2003, BBC Football Focus)

Many thought of Tim Howard as a surprise purchase by Alex Ferguson in the Summer. A 24 year-old American goalkeeper that most people thought would be in the reserves for the next few seasons. But now impressive, consistent performances have propelled him into the media spotlight and the enviable position as first choice goalkeeper for Manchester United.

TH: It's exceeded by expectations and I had very high expectations. Things are much bigger here that I expected, but I wasn't that surprised.

Q. Manchester United have had alot of goalkeepers since Peter Schmeichel and some have disappeared since they left, did that concern you at all?

TH: Not particularly, I think Peter Schmeichel is rated so highly and is a legend at Manchester United and in the world of football. It is very hard to be compared to such high standards. I try to avoid comparisons and aim to make my own standards. I just try to live up to what I can do and go from there.

Q. Your in the mould of Peter Schmeichel, telling your defenders where they should be.

TH:I'm not one to go overboard. At times you have to let people know what they need to do, and that's all the role of the goalkeeper and my defenders will tell you that is what they want to hear. They need to be told what's going on, the communication part is very important.

I try to drive and push myself in training. I'm not a goalkeeper that would blame someone else, I don't look at it in that way, I try to look at myself first and ask alot of myself. Obviously there are times when I fail, but that's what pushes me. I just want to be the best, obviously. And I'm not the best and I am along way off, but I think that's good motivation.

Q: How did football come your way as an American youngster, where so many sports compete?

TH: Soccer is the biggest youth sport in American, everybody is playing it. It seems to fizzle out alittle bit as kids get older. But I tried it and really enjoyed it. As an American youth you play a bunch of sports, eventually one rises to the top and you like that one better than the others. That's how it was for me with soccer, I mean football.

Q. One of the issues that came to the fore when you signed was Tourette's Syndrome. Tell us how it does affect you.

TH: It affects me all the time. Even when I'm playing and if it's not visual to someone looking on, it's something I have to deal with on a 24 hour basis. You know for me, I have been able to cope pretty well with it, I've had it for a while now, since I was about 10 years old. So you learn to deal with it.

Q: How does it manifest itself?

TH: Yer it manifests itself in involuntary ticks, physical and verbal ticks, movements, rapid movements and it affects everyone differently. You know, eye, head movements, arms, speech. You know it changes - year to year, month to month. I just deal with it and prepare myself for the game. When i'm on my own living my life it happens to me, it happens every once in a while. I don't even really focus on it too much.

Q: You are a devote Christian, surely that means you have an opinion on some of the bad headlines about footballers that have appeared recently.

TH: I tend not to judge and don't think anyone should judge another person. I think it's tough, people get put in tough situations. Sometimes you get young men with lots of money and fame and it's tough for them to deal with and so you fall into a trap at times.

Q: Two years ago did you expect to be where you are now at Manchester United?

TH: No, certainly not. I dreamed of it, and it was my goal to play in Europe. The plan was to get my foot in the door, with a smaller club somewhere in Europe. Never did I think I would be playing at Manchester United. But as I said I have been fortunate and I'm blessed to be here and hopefully I will make the most of it.

Information Source Credits

Profile - www.manutd.com
Interview - www.bbc.co.uk/footballfocus/
Photographs - www.freewebs.com/timhoward/

Follow the future activities of Tim Howard @ PlayerWatch.co.uk