The legendary goalkeeper spoke to reporters ahead of his upcoming induction on May 4
Throughout his career, Tim Howard must have always felt the weight of expectations. At home, he was next up in a long line of legends, placed into shoes that were almost impossible to fill. Abroad, he was playing in environments that don't care where you're from or what you've done, just how you play.
Somehow, though, the American defied each and every expectation thrust upon him. He achieved things that none could have imagined. And, now, he'll have a title to prove it: Hall of Famer.
Not that he needed it, really. Howard's impact remains unquestionable. He has the years, the moments, the statistics, the memories…. Howard's legacy is secure.
So, when he gets his big Hall of Fame moment on May 4, it'll be another accolade for a superstar who earned plenty of them. This one, though, will be special. It solidifies what everyone already knew: that Howard is right there with any American who has ever played this sport.
"Chasing greatness, having a Hall of Fame career, it's scary as hell," Howard told reporters. "There are a lot of lows. There's a lot of low moments. If someone were to ask me if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't want to do it over! I know how hard it was and I wouldn't really want to have to make those sacrifices over again.
"I think I'd tell my younger self that if you work hard enough, and I truly mean work hard enough, and you're willing to sacrifice nearly everything in your life to be great, then things will turn out okay."
Ahead of his Hall of Fame induction, Howard spoke to reporters about his experiences, his legacy and his upcoming big moment…
GettyThinking about legacy
Now that it's all over, Howard can think back to his earliest days a bit more. He can think of his mom kicking a ball at him in front of a wall as he made saves with baseball gloves on his hands. He can think back to sitting in the nosebleeds at Giants Stadium to see the Marlboro Cup. He can look back at a 1990 World Cup that felt like it was played on a different planet than the one he existed in back home in New Jersey.
The American can also think back about the influence of Tony Meola, the U.S. goalkeeper who set the tone for all of those that followed. Howard has earned his place among the greats, players like Meola, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel.
All these years later, Howard can now realize that there are plenty of other kids now kicking balls in front of walls or sitting in the last rows of stadiums for a glimpse of their heroes. And many of those kids are doing so because of him. For a generation of young players, Howard has become a role model on par with the ones he had growing up.
"When you're done playing, all you have is your legacy," Howard says. "Hopefully you're smart enough and you surround yourself with good enough people that you don't tarnish that legacy on your journey. I'm very fortunate to have that and have had monumental moments, to have had World Cups, longevity in the Premier League to where people can identify with me…I think when it really hit me was when I came home, when I came back to Denver in 2016. Just the amount of people who come up to me and say, 'I'm an Everton fan because of you' and I'm like 'God, I didn't realize I was that old!'
"But that's so cool. That's awesome. I see a lot of kids out there wearing No. 24, which is the number wore. I'm lucky I feel humbled by the fact that I was able to inspire a generation or part of a generation. I think that, when you're done and retire, that's all you got. You can't kick a ball anymore, nor do I desire to kick a ball anymore, but it's your legacy is all you have to hold on to."
AdvertisementGettySir Alex or David Moyes?
On the club level, Howard is best known for his time in the Premier League. He came up as a Metrostar and ended his career as a Colorado Rapid, but many will remember him for his run in England, for good reason.
Howard spent four years with Manchester United before starring at Everton for a decade, becoming one of the Toffees' most beloved players. Few American players have endeared themselves to a club quite like Howard did at Goodison Park, where he earned legitimate icon status.
During his time abroad, he played under legends like Sir Alex Ferguson and, throughout his Everton stretch, David Moyes. And, under them, Howard went from boy to man, both on and off the field.
"Sir Alex Ferguson was very scary," Howard began with a laugh. "I was a young kid when I went to Man Utd, 23, 24, 25, somewhere in there, so I was just a scared kid in a corner saying 'yes sir' or 'no sir'. It was a really big team with big players. My voice wasn't there to be heard. Although that's scary, you don't have much say.
"When I went to Everton, David Moyes, he heaped a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. When that happens, the tide turns. You have to have tough conversations with the manager. When the team isn't playing well or someone isn't turning up, you get the brunt of that fury. David Moyes was the scariest, but I'd run through the Gates of Hell seven days of the week for David Moyes."
Getty ImagesTHAT Belgium game
There are so few moments in sports defined by the loser. History is written by and about winners, with those on the other side often being an afterthought.
Not Howard. Not at the 2014 World Cup. Not on that day when Howard became a legitimate legendary figure in this sport's long history.
Howard's 16-save performance against Belgium remains a historic one. It's the one that earned him the nickname "Secretary of Defense" back home in the States, and the one he's remembered for most abroad, with fans all over the world remembering what may just be the greatest goalkeeping performance of all time.
"The one thing people say to me, If anyone comes up to me and says anything, whether I'm in the supermarket or the airport, which I'm in a lot, or anywhere on the street, they talk about the Belgium game," Howard says. "I think what's special to me now is that I have the opportunity to share that with hundreds, if not thousands, of fans everywhere I go. They tell me where they were, what they were doing, who they were with when they were watching the Belgium game.
There are a lot of times, and this is the crazy thing about generations, a lot of times they'll come up to me with their son or daughter and be like 'I was holding my son while watching the game!' And now and now that baby is kicking a soccer ball around and is eight or nine years old or whatever.
"It's special to have that one shining moment in that category. I have a lot of great moments, but that's one that people can cling to. so I'm very fortunate and I appreciate the fact that that has added to my legacy."
GettyThe current USMNT crop
For the first time in 30 years or so, the USMNT goalkeeper position is struggling a bit. There were so many transitions from Meola right on down to Howard. At the moment, though, American goalkeepers are struggling at the top level.
Matt Turner is stuck on the bench at Nottingham Forest. Zack Steffen has returned home to the Rapids, Howard's former club. Youngsters like Gaga Slonina and Patrick Schulte are making waves, but both still have a lot of growing to do.
Howard isn't worried, although there are concerns.
The legendary goalkeeper says that he's seen a dip in quality in goalkeeping coaching over the years, with that dip directly impacting the development of plenty of players. Between a lack of coaching and a lack of minutes, Howard says there's an easy explanation for the struggles American shot-stoppers are facing at the moment.
"I don't know if our young goalkeepers are getting pushed as hard as they need to, to that breaking point," Howard said. "It's one of the things that Kasey Keller said to me when I signed with Manchester United and it stuck with me forever. He just said that, in order to be judged as a goalkeeper, we have to play 100 games at the highest level. Right now, our young guys aren't getting those games to even be able to judge them.
"I'm not worried about the World Cup. We've got a few years to go. I like Zack and I like Matt, too. I like Matt's wherewithal and fortitude and mental toughness. Zack's talent is unmatched. I've always said about Zack that he can be the greatest USMNT goalkeeper of all time because of the physical tools that he possesses. Obviously, the ball's in his court.
"Am I worried? No, not particularly. I worry more about the team as a whole and making sure they're in the right place."