Not only by way of players and stadiums but training facilities, too. In its infancy, MLS then wasn't quite what it is now.
Tim howard house professional#
Howard's professional career kicked off in 1997 as an 18-year-old with the North Jersey Imperials of the USISL before joining the MetroStars a year later.
It wasn't the most glamorous decision from the start, though. I probably could have played college ball somewhere small on the East Coast, but I think I made the right decision.”
Sports, yes, but more than anything, it taught me brotherhood. "Taught me a lot of lessons about friendship, life and loyalty. “I cherish those moments, it’s some of the greatest sporting moments I’ve had," Howard said. Still, he says basketball is his first true love and recalls his times with the high school team as part of what shaped him. how far I could go in basketball, it was no competition.” "I had thoughts of how good I was at basketball, but I wasn’t really that good. “Soccer picked me," Howard said proudly with no hesitation. Howard grew up in central New Jersey, where his athleticism shined in both soccer and basketball. Tim Howard with the MetroStars in 2001 | Courtesy of New York Red Bulls Those who pursued playing in goal because of him, or who became Evertonians, or who are influenced to make the journey to Red Bull Arena to see one of the state's greatest athletes and ambassadors. If not? That’s okay too.”īut that doesn't lessen the impact he's had on the state's soccer community, on the one-time children who are now adults who played soccer because of him. "I got some lazy friends who will call me Friday," Howard jokes.ĭespite those friendly faces, Howard isn't expecting any sort of rousing ovation from the Red Bull faithful. “I don’t expect a warm reception anywhere I go, I learned that a long time ago," Howard said with a laugh. "If they do, that’s great. Howard already knows of about 50 family and friends who will be in the stands, though the former Manchester United netminder expects a few more to hit him with late ticket requests.
I wouldn’t have it any other way, New Jersey is special. I haven’t lived there in a while but I was born and raised there. “I’m a proud New Jersey native, no doubt," Howard told on Wednesday. "I got some Jersey tattoos. Though the North Brunswick native hasn't lived in his state since departing the MetroStars to begin his English Premier League career in 2003, there's nothing quite like coming home. Howard long had this fixture circled on his farewell tour - the 40-year-old pointed to this game as the one road trip he was most looking forward to after announcing his retirement in January. On Saturday, one last time as a professional soccer player, Tim Howard is going home.Īgainst the club that gave him his MLS debut, then known as the MetroStars, the Colorado Rapids' goalkeeper and US soccer legend returns to his home state of New Jersey to take on the New York Red Bulls (7 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US and on DAZN in Canada).
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