Tim Howard, American Secretary of Defense star of World Cup 2014. The goalie continues to be held in high regard for his legendary 15-save performance against Belgium, as well as the fact that he still has a significant impact on US soccer. Five years after his last appearance for the men’s national team and eight years after he nearly led the Stars and Stripes past Belgium in the 2014 World Cup, Tim Howard continues to be the face of goalkeeping in the United States. At the age of 37, Howard moved from Everton to Colorado Rapids. His international career came to an end in 2017, when he along with Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore left the club shortly after their combined failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. However, “The Secretary of Defense” is the most well-known American shot-blocker there is.
Bradley was in awe of Howard’s remarkable performance against Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when he made a world-record 15 saves despite losing 2-1. We rely so much on him since he is such a wonderful leader and player. Despite being on the losing side that evening, Howard still won the man of the match award for his genuinely historic effort. He also gave rise to a hashtag, with #ThingsTimHowardCouldSave becoming popular on Twitter as funny tributes to his valor were being made by football fans all over the world.
Since no clear successor for the USMNT has yet to appear, this is another factor contributing to Howard’s continued popularity. While Matt Turner has yet to establish himself at the top level, Zack Steffen’s ascent to fame struck an unforeseen roadblock. But Howard’s ongoing appeal might also be attributed to his approachable demeanor with the media. He has been a mainstay of NBC’s Premier League coverage since his TV debut in late 2013 (when he was still a player), delivering an on-camera perspective of matches on various studio shows each week. Additionally, he worked as a Turner Sports analyst for Champions League games.
In the upcoming two months, Howard will appear in numerous advertising efforts, including a TV commercial that already has a devoted following and features Peyton Manning and David Beckham. In addition, Howard adopted Landon Donovan’s strategy for investing in soccer, becoming a co-owner of the USL’s Memphis 901 at the same time that Donovan did with the USL’s San Diego Loyal. Ali Howard, a highly regarded high school player for Briarcrest, a nationally recognized team, is his daughter. The women’s national team might then use a Howard of the next generation on the opposing side of the field.
She told ABC24, “It’s good having him around to watch all my games and give me a little help.” But not excessively! Howard is frequently asked for his opinion on the USMNT, particularly in the run-up to the World Cup. Recently, he criticized the organization. After a disappointing September window, he questioned their leadership, saying on the podcast In Soccer We Trust: “If we give the ball away 50 times in the first half, that’s not good enough to me.” As the Stars and Stripes prepare to play in their first World Cup since he established his position in the nation’s football folklore, you’ll undoubtedly hear a lot about him.
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