Howard - The Keeper

TIM HOWARD is the goalkeeper for Everton in the English Premier League and the U.S. Mens National Team. He previously played for the MetroStars in Major League Soccer and for the storied club Manchester United. In July 2014, he broke the record for most saves (15) in a World Cup game. He also works as a soccer broadcaster on NBCs weekly coverage of the EPL.

ALI BENJAMIN is the coauthor (with Paige Rawl) of Positive the acclaimed memoir about teen bullying. She lives in rural Massachusetts with her husband and two children, all ardent soccer fans.

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W riting a book requires, by necessity, selecting just a few stories while leaving others untold. My life has been filled with remarkable people, with whom Ive shared extraordinary moments. I wish I could include all in these pages. If youve been a part of my lifeif youve been among those who supported me and laughed with me and rooted for meplease know that youre in my heart, even if youre not in these pages.

I am the player I am because of the teammates Ive had, both past and present. To my teammates on Everton and the U.S. National Team: You are my brothers, my fellow comrades, my friends. Thank you for giving me more incredible memories than one man deserves in his lifetime. Thank you, too, to my teammates on the MetroStars, the Imperials, and to all my youth and school teams... right down to the North Brunswick Recreation Rangers. My experiences with all of you helped shape me.

To fans of U.S. Soccer and Everton: you are the 12th man on that field, and wed be nothing without you. Special thanks, too, to the American Outlaws, who helped America discover the beauty and thrill of this game. I really do believe that we will win.

To the entire Everton staff: you have truly become my family. Special thanks to Sue Palmer, Bill Ellaby, Paula Smith, David Harrison, Tony Sage, Danny Donachie, Darren Griffiths, Jimmy Comer, Richie Porter, Matt Connery, Robert Elstone, and Jimmy Martin. Ill bleed blue for the rest of my life.

And most of all to Bill Kenwright: your faith in me continues to be an honor.

Its been a privilege to represent my country on the world stage. Im grateful to U.S. Soccer for giving me the opportunity and for helping this New Jersey kids dreams come true. Id like to offer a special debt of gratitude to Dan Perkins, Michael Kammerman, Ivan Pierra, Dr. George Chiampas, Jon Fleischman, Jessie Bignami, Andreas Hertzog. Also, Sunil Gulati, Dan Flynn, and Don Garber, and so many others at MLS and U.S. Soccer who work every day toward taking American soccer to new heights.

To Dan Segal, the most humble, practical, hard-working guy I know. Youve had my back in this book, as you have everywhere else.

To Brendan Meyer, who does a great job managing my social media accounts, and to Casey Wasserman and the rest of the crew at Wasserman Media Group who have provided helpful support throughout my career.

To Daren Flitcroft and Allison Brill, thank you for your research, feedback, and insights.

To my assistant, Amber: without your hard work and dedication, my life would descend into chaos. Thank you, sincerely, for saving me from that fate.

To Mulch: it is fair to say that this book, and indeed my whole life, would be very differentand far lesswithout you. Youve been a coach, a mentor, and a dear friend. You are with me every time I take my place in the box. Heres to the 732.

To my many coaches: Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Alex Ferguson, Jrgen Klinsmann, David Moyes, Roberto Martinez, and my goalkeeping coaches, Peter Mellor, Inaki Bergara, and Chris Woods. Thank you for trusting me, and for pushing me.

This book comes from the indefatigable passion and support of my editor, David Hirshey. Thank you for your uncompromising vision, your unflagging energy, and your unyielding focus on excellence. And to Sydney Pierce: your efforts in shepherding this manuscript on its narrow timeline, with so many parties involved, have been nothing short of heroic.

To Ali Benjamin, thank you for your steadfast and tireless commitment to my cause. Our deadline was tight and my schedule was crazy, yet you captured my thoughts, ideas, and tales in a book that I am proud to share with the world.

To NBC Sports, which has given me the honor of broadcasting Premier League games, and to my commercial sponsors, past and present, who support me and also support the sport of soccer. Special mention goes to my long-standing partner, Nike, who helped make me a pro in the first place with the Project 40 program and has been with me my whole career.

To the million or so other people who helped shape my story: Chris Brienza, Rob Skead, Ross Paule, Clint Mathis, Rob Vartughian, Steve Senior, Ed Breheny, Stan Williston, James Martin, and Reverend Hooper. Im so honored to have shared time with you. And to the admirable people Ive met through the TS community: Faith and Kim Rice, Marisa Lenger, the Kowalski family, and everyone at the New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome and the Tourette Syndrome Association: thanks for sharing your stories and for helping change the world.

Im endlessly grateful to my family. To my father: thank you for your love and support.

To Chris: youre the warrior, my brother.

To my grandparentsPoppa, Momma, and Nana. I love you, and I know Ill see you all again one day.

To my mommy rock, my inspiration, my unconditional support.

To Laura. Im so grateful to you, both for who we once were, and for who we still are today. We made two miracles. If I scoured the whole world, I could never find a better mother for Jacob and Alivia.

And, finally, to my beautiful children: my blessings, my heartbeats. Everything has been for you. Always.

T he game I play has a different name in the U.S. than it does in the rest of the world, and Im one of the few people who uses both. When Im playing for my club team, Everton, in Liverpool, England, I refer to the sport as football, but when Im playing for the U.S. National Team, I call the sport soccer. In this book, I have decided to go with the latter.

E ven from the locker room, I can hear the rumbling of the crowd. The drumbeats. The chants: USA! USA!

I believe that we will win.

I spent the past 24 hours doing what I always do: I stuck to my routine and stayed focused. Just as Ive done today, warming up.

I started, as usual, by getting dressed in the same orderright leg before left for shin guards, socks, and shoes. Then I taped my fingers in precisely the same pattern I always follow. On the field, I checked the orange cones, right to left, with my feet, moving the one that my goalkeeping coach leaves off center deliberately so I can realign it.

This whole process might seem crazy to everyone else, but to me, nothing makes more sense. Its the only way I know to feel calm and in control.