Tag: Tim Howard

Howard unloads on ex-USMNT boss Klinsmann: We won in spite of him

“He specialized in fluff and philosophical rhetoric. But there was zero soccer”

Tim Howard apparently didn’t much like playing for Jürgen Klinsmann.

The former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper unloaded on his former coach in an article for the Daily Mail, saying that the team won in spite of the German manager.

Klinsmann was in charge of the USMNT from 2011 to 2016, a period during which Howard was usually the team’s starter in goal.

The ex-Germany coach’s time in charge of the U.S. was full of highs and lows. He led the team to the 2013 Gold Cup before guiding them out of a difficult group at the 2014 World Cup.

But Klinsmann’s methods and popularity with his players were always in question, and he left two games into a World Cup qualifying cycle that ended with the team shockingly missing out on the 2018 event in Russia.

Howard’s column in the Daily Mail was ostensibly about the USMNT reportedly closing in on hiring Mauricio Pochettino, who would be the team’s first foreign coach since Klinsmann.

But in addition to praising the rumored new hire, the USMNT legend had a lot to say about his former coach. For example:

He organized a lot of team excursions. He specialized in fluff and philosophical rhetoric. But there was zero soccer.

We went to Versailles, we went to the 9/11 memorial, we went on boating trips. He made us come into lunch and sing the national anthem. He dictated when we slept and when we woke up. He decided what we wore.

He replaced sugary snacks and enforced tighter curfews. He tried to change our breathing, he sent us on ’empty stomach runs’ at dawn. He hired people and literally made up staffing positions for them.

Jurgen tried to reinvent the wheel but he didn’t teach us a lot of soccer. So we had to on rely on the likes Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore to bring the team together and win games – in spite of the manager.

The lesson for Pochettino to learn from Klinsmann? Understand the American player. Don’t make it about yourself. Every culture has different nuances – wherever you coach around the world. So, yes, players have to be pushed out of their comfort zone, but you have to learn what makes people tick.

After leaving the USMNT, Klinsmann had a brief stint in charge of Hertha Berlin before he took over as South Korea manager last year. The 60-year-old was sacked in February after the Taegeuk Warriors were eliminated by Jordan in the Asian Cup semifinal.

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Klopp for USMNT? Lalas, Howard urge U.S. Soccer to approach ex-Liverpool boss

It might seem like a longshot, but the players-turned-pundits both want Klopp to be the next USMNT coach

Jürgen Klopp may be the ultimate pipe dream for U.S. men’s national team fans, but don’t tell ex-USMNT stars Tim Howard and Alexi Lalas.

With U.S. Soccer facing increasing pressure to dismiss coach Gregg Berhalter after the team’s embarrassing early exit from the 2024 Copa América, both Howard and Lalas went public in urging the federation to pursue Klopp.

The former Liverpool manager, who won six major trophies during an outstanding nine-year run at Anfield, has made no public pronouncements about interest in the USMNT job (or any other national team post).

That hasn’t stopped fans and pundits in the U.S. for citing him as the top target for U.S. Soccer.

“If you’re not going to go big, it flies in the face of what America is — we want big, we want bold, and dare I say we want arrogant in the things that we do, in particular in terms of maximizing the summer of 2026,” Lalas told the New York Post in an interview.

“Someone like Jürgen Klopp is out there. I know people scoff at the idea of someone with his pedigree and background would ever consider doing this. But until you have the conversation, you don’t know.”

Howard pledges in-person pitch to Klopp

Where Lalas was simply interested in U.S. Soccer touching base with Klopp, Howard went much further.

“If I was in charge of U.S. Soccer right now, I’d be on my way to the airport. Why? Because I believe I could make a very compelling argument to Jürgen Klopp,” wrote Howard in an opinion column in the Daily Mail.

“After the disappointment of Copa América, after the United States lost to Uruguay and exited at the group stages, I will personally fly to Spain. I mean it.

“I know Klopp has only been retired a few weeks and I know he wants a break. But if we sat around his villa in Spain, I think I could lure him over here. 100 percent.

“The money is certainly there. So my pitch would be simple: he has a young group of players who can play progressive, front-foot soccer, exactly like his Liverpool teams. And in two years’ time he can go to the biggest World Cup in history.”

Howard’s insistence that the money will be there might be a stretch. Klopp reportedly made $19.1 million per season at the end of his Liverpool contract.

By comparison, World Cup bonuses took Berhalter’s contract for 2022 up to $2.3 million.

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Tim Howard is already trying to convince Jürgen Klopp to replace Gregg Berhalter as USMNT coach

Tim Howard is dreaming BIG.

When U.S. Soccer rehired Gregg Berhalter to coach the U.S. men’s national team after an expectation-meeting World Cup and scandal-ridden aftermath, the decision was an obvious mistake. That ill-advised move was only exacerbated when the USMNT got eliminated in the group stage of the Copa America on home soil this week.

Now, even one of the best players in USMNT history is calling for a change. In fact, he already has a replacement in mind.

In a guest column for the Daily Mail, former USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard said that he would personally fly to Spain to recruit now-former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp to take over for Berhalter and urged USSF technical director Matt Crocker to do the same.

Klopp, 57, retired from coaching following this past Premier League season. He’s had success at virtually every stop in his managing career — which included Liverpool’s first Premier League title (the club had 19 top-division titles that preceded the Premier League).

According to Howard, he thinks the opportunity to coach a talented USMNT squad in a home World Cup would be intriguing to Klopp. It is far less demanding on a day-to-day basis to coach internationally than at a club because you’re only working with players during FIFA windows and the club offseason. Klopp has already coached USMNT captain Christian Pulisic at Borussia Dortmund and has spoken highly of his talent.

Still, Klopp would be a pipe dream for U.S. Soccer. For one, Berhalter — as of now — is still the USMNT head coach. This is the same federation that refused to even interview established international coaches like Marcelo Bielsa, Juan Carlos Osorio or Tata Martino in the past. There’s no reason to think the USSF would suddenly take an aggressive approach in convincing arguably a top 3 coach in the world to come aboard.

And let’s say that U.S. Soccer managed to get Klopp’s attention, money will likely end up being a huge factor here. Klopp made upwards of $20 million per season with Liverpool. Berhalter makes makes about $2.3 million annually. And there are conflicting reports as to whether USWNT head coach Emma Hayes’ salary would be tied to a potential new USMNT coach. Currently, Hayes and Berhalter take in equal salaries.

We’ll have to see if U.S. Soccer takes Howard’s advice here as it would be the right move. It just won’t be easy — or even realistic.

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Howard: USMNT not having permanent captain ‘doesn’t sit well’

Howard wants the USMNT to have a clear-cut captain, and he knows just the man for the job

Tim Howard wants to see a change in leadership with the U.S. men’s national team, in that he wants to know who the leader actually is.

In an opinion piece for the Daily Mail, the former USMNT goalkeeper urged manager Gregg Berhalter to appoint a single player as the team’s undisputed captain.

“I am a firm believer that there has to be one voice and the communication hierarchy must be clear: manager, captain, senior players and then nobody else,” said Howard.

“This USMNT seems to be a tight unit. They understand what it means to wear the U.S. jersey. But heading into Copa America, Gregg Berhalter has no permanent captain. That doesn’t sit well with me.”

Berhalter has given the armband to Christian Pulisic in the USMNT’s four matches involving a full-strength roster in 2024. Pulisic, Tim Ream, Matt Turner, and Sean Johnson captained the team in competitive matches during 2023.

However, no captain has been officially named ahead of the Copa América, with the USMNT kicking off the tournament on Sunday against Bolivia.

Howard: Adams should captain USMNT

At the 2022 World Cup, Tyler Adams was named captain, though the defensive midfielder has scarcely been available to play since then due to major hamstring and back injuries.

Despite that time spent away from the team, the 25-year-old Bournemouth man is exactly who Howard had in mind with his comments.

“Tyler Adams should have the armband — without question,” insisted the former Manchester United and Everton goalkeeper. “Just look at how he operates on the pitch, his upbeat personality, his tenacity, and how well he speaks off the field.

“Under his leadership, this team can galvanize the country at Copa America. Sometimes it’s as easy as just kicking the ball – sports can be healing, motivational and inspirational.

“But Tyler is not a leader who shies away from difficult topics. And I would have no problem if he or a teammate spoke out. They just better back it up on the field.”

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Photos of Tim Howard through the years

A look at photos of Tim Howard through the years. Howard’s daughter, Ali Howard, committed to play soccer for the Lady Vols.

Tim Howard was the United States men’s national soccer team goalkeeper from 2002-17, appearing in 121 matches. He was also goalkeeper for the United States’ U23 (1999) and U20 (1999) teams.

Howard played for Manchester United (2003-07) and Everton F.C. (2006-17) in the Premier League. He also played in Major League Soccer for the New York Red Bulls (1998-2003) and Colorado (2016-19).

Howard’s professional playing career ended in 2021 with Memphis 901.

His daughter, Ali Howard, committed to play soccer for the Lady Vols. She is a 2025 prospect from Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tennessee.

READ: Ali Howard commits to Tennessee soccer

Below are photos of Howard through the years playing goalkeeper.

Ali Howard commits to Lady Vols

Ali Howard, daughter of former USA goalkeeper, commits to the Lady Vols.

Ali Howard committed to Tennessee soccer.

“First of all, I would like to thank God for blessing me with the ability to play the game I love and walking with me every step of this journey,” Howard announced. “With that being said I’m extremely happy and grateful to announce my verbal commitment to The University of Tennessee!!!! This would not be possible without the constant support of my family, friends, coaches, teammates, trainers and of course God! I would like to thank coach Joe, coach Jon, coach Becky, and coach Marty for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity to be a Lady Vol. I can’t wait to represent my home state in orange and white! Oh… and GO VOLS.”

Howard is from Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tennessee. She is the daughter of former professional and United States men’s national soccer team goalkeeper Tim Howard.

PHOTOS: Tim Howard through the years

Justin Ford/USA TODAY Network

Howard claims Pulisic suffered from anti-American bias at Chelsea

“As an American, it’s tough. You’ve got to prove it every day”

With so many U.S. men’s national team stars at big clubs in Europe, the perception that there is a bias against Americans seems to have changed in recent years.

But for Tim Howard, the anti-American sentiment in Europe is truly alive and well.

Appearing on the Offside With Taylor Twellman podcast, the longtime USMNT and Everton goalkeeper used Christian Pulisic as an example of the lingering bias against American players in the upper echelons of the game.

Pulisic struggled for playing time at various points during his Chelsea career, particularly last season when he set a career low in minutes. The USMNT star left Stamford Bridge in the offseason and joined AC Milan, where he is thriving early in his career with the Rossoneri.

According to Howard, who spent more than a decade in the Premier League, Pulisic’s struggles for minutes at Chelsea are an example that there is still a bias against American players.

“If you’re an American and you’re playing in the Premier League, you better be good every day,” Howard said. “Not for a year, not for a game. Because for as much as some people on the couch want to say, ‘Oh, the landscape has changed for Americans’ — it has not.

“I think Christian Pulisic did a brilliant job when he was called upon in that Chelsea team. If he was Dutch or Italian or anything else, he’d still be in the team. He wouldn’t be the first one pulled off the pitch. He wouldn’t be a substitute. He’s that good, and he’s showing that in Milan now. And so as an American, it’s tough. You’ve got to prove it every day.”

Howard’s comments came a week after USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner suggested there is a bias in the Premier League, not against Americans specifically but against any non-English player.

Explaining why he felt the need to leave Arsenal and join Nottingham Forest, Turner said: “I knew that if I waited another year, it would probably have been more challenging for me to make a lateral move within the Premier League. So I knew that time was of the essence at that point.

“If I went another season without playing, I would have probably had to take a step back and once you’re out of it, it’s hard to get back into it, especially when you’re not English.”

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David Beckham, Peyton Manning debate whether it’s soccer or football in World Cup Doritos ad

Pro Soccer Wire has an opinion on this issue!

David Beckham and Peyton Manning are trying to settle the major dispute of our times.

In a new World Cup ad from Frito-Lay, they’re debating whether to call the sport being played during the tournament soccer or football. It’s an ongoing argument that will probably never be settled. So long as there’s an Englishman jumping into your mentions to say “it’s called football, mate,” or a U.S.-based team in a soccer league tacking an FC onto their name, we’ll be doing this forever.

Beckham and Manning try to hash the issue out, while also bickering over whether they’re chips and cleats or crisps and boots, as the former England midfielder settles in to watch the World Cup on the NFL quarterback’s couch.

With the two retired pros at an impasse and chomping on various chips/crisps, they got some outside help. Mia Hamm, in coach mode at a youth soccer field, lands hard on the side of soccer. Comedian Ron Funches, dressed as a football* referee and officiating the game Hamm’s team is playing in, disagrees.

*note: We at Pro Soccer Wire have made our choice on this matter clear, and you can even buy a shirt endorsing our correct position.

Up in a broadcast booth in some other location, more USWNT legends have their say. Julie Foudy poses the question, and gets her answer in the form of a Brandi Chastain sports bra that reads “SOCCER.”

We then go field level, with Chicharito and Tim Howard having, for unclear reasons, a penalty kick shootout. Chicharito offers a third option, fútbol, with Howard sticking up for soccer. The Mexico and LA Galaxy striker seemed to miss his spot kick, but he had an ulterior motive: demolishing Howard’s bag of Cheetos, and catching one of the flying snacks for himself.

It’s a galaxy-brain solution, and might make Chicharito the real winner from this commercial.

We come back to Beckham explaining the entire history of every sport played with a ball, before he slips up and notes that he owns a soccer team (Inter Miami), before mobs of people end up outside chanting for soccer and football, respectively. Everyone knows that’s just what happens when famous people playfully argue over a topic.

Whatever you call it, the biggest tournament in the men’s version of the sport kicks off on November 20.

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