Kansas City, Mo. (PRWEB) October 31, 2016 -- United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) member and Colorado Rapids goalkeeper, Tim Howard has been selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as the 2016 recipient of its Honorary All-America award. He will be presented the award at the organization’s annual All-America Luncheon on January 14 in Los Angeles, in conjunction with its annual convention.
The NSCAA selects and recognizes the best college, high school and youth players each year for both men and women’s soccer through its All-America program, the only player recognition program of its kind in soccer. A selection committee looks for individuals who bring distinctive recognition and attention to soccer through their personal and professional efforts. Past recipients have included players, coaches, individuals from business, government, the entertainment industry and American heroes including astronauts, military personnel and legendary icons of the game*.
“The NSCAA is proud to recognize an American soccer icon like Tim Howard as our 2016 Honorary All-American,” said Amanda Vandervort, NSCAA President. “His outstanding career as one of the best goalkeepers of all-time speaks for itself, but his personal story of meeting many difficult challenges head on and his success has been an inspirational story for so many people.”
Howard is the most capped goalkeeper of all-time for the USMNT, with more than 100 appearances since his debut in 2002. He was an unused substitute for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but quickly became the starter, appearing in the net for all of the U.S. games in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2014 in Brazil. During the latter, Howard set a World Cup record for saves in a match with 16 stops in the round of 16 against Belgium.
In Howard’s 2014 autobiography entitled The Keeper, he describes his life and career dealing with Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that created unique challenges he’s had to overcome as world-class athlete.
Howard was born on March 6, 1979, in North Brunswick, New Jersey, to an African American father and native Hungarian mother. At six-feet-three-inches tall, he was a standout athlete in high school, playing midfield for his soccer program and helping the basketball team to the state finals his senior year. His transition to goalkeeper took place after a single private coaching session identified his potential.
After stints with club programs including the Central Jersey Cosmos and later with the New Jersey Imperials, a USISL team he played his first professional game with before graduating high school, Howard joined the New York MetroStars of Major League Soccer at the age of 19. He played six seasons in New York (1998-2003) and earned the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2001.
Manchester United paid a large transfer fee to sign Howard during the 2003 MLS season and he joined the English Premier League club later that year, quickly becoming its first choice in the net that season. After four years with United, he signed with EPL club Everton where he continued a stellar career that included saving two penalty kicks against former club United in a 2009 FA Cup semifinal shootout to send Everton to the championship versus Chelsea. During that season he had set the Everton record for shutouts in a season. He was a fixture in goal for the club through February of 2016, which included a run of 210 consecutive Premier League appearances.
On March 20, 2016, Major League Soccer announced that Howard would return to the American pro league with the signing of a three-year deal with the Colorado Rapids.
About the NSCAA
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2016, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America was founded in 1941 and is based in Kansas City, Mo. It is a non-profit organization with the mission of advocating for, educating and serving soccer coaches to encourage excellence and elevate soccer in America.
The NSCAA is the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization with members at every level of the game from professional and college to high school and youth. Benefits of membership are wide ranging including a national coaching education program, professional development resources, $1 million of general liability insurance, annual recognition for players and coaches with All-America and Coach of the Year awards, the annual NSCAA Convention, networking and mentor opportunities, Soccer Journal magazine and more. To learn more, visit http://www.nscaa.com.
*PAST NSCAA Honorary All-Americans
2015, Jill Ellis, U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach
2014, Sir Alex Ferguson, Former Manager, Manchester United
2013, Bob Bradley, Former U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach
2012, Julie Foudy, U.S. Women's National Team
2011, Sunil Gulati, President, US Soccer
2010, Joe Gaetjens, 1950 U.S. Men's National Team member
2009, JP Dellacamera, ESPN
2008, Dr. Sandra Magnus, U.S. astronaut
2007, Kristine Lilly, five-time U.S. Women’s World Cup player
2006, John and Maureen Hendricks; founders of the Discovery Channel
2005, Jon Stewart; comedian/TV talk show host
2004, U.S. Servicemen and Servicewomen Using Soccer for Outreach; accepted by Capt. Alexander Fyfe and,, Lt. Joshua Walters
2003, Walter Bahr, Frank Borghi, Harry Keough, Gino Pariani and John Sousa, Members of the 1950 U.S. World Cup, Team; Zachary Ty Bryan, TV/Movie actor
2001, Heroes and Victims of Sept. 11, 2001; accepted by Joe Brosi and Wyman Iriarity, Fire Dept. of New York soccer team
2000, Michelle Akers, U.S. Women’s National Team
1999, Tony DiCicco, U.S. Women’s National Team Coach
1998, Bob Ley, ESPN
1996, Lamar Hunt, Investor/Operator, Major League Soccer
1994, Carolyn McKenzie-Edwards, Soccer in the Streets
1993, Andrew Shue, TV/Movie actor
1992, Anson Dorrance, U.S. Women’s National Team Coach
1991, Sonny Carter, U.S. astronaut
1990, Pelé, International soccer icon and ambassador from Brazil
1989, Werner Fricker, President, U.S. Soccer
1985, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics
1983, Clay Berling, Publisher, Soccer America
1982, Dennis P. Long, Anheuser-Busch Co.
1974, William Symington, U.S. Representative, Mo.
1973, William Westmoreland, General of the Army
1972, Col. William Anders, Apollo 8 Lunar Mission Astronaut
Erica Cohen, NSCAA, http://www.nscaa.com, +1 913-707-8486, [email protected]
Share this article