by Tim Howard
Behind me, in Gladwys, someone shouts, “Come on, Blue Boys!” I make the final cross over my chest.
The whistle is about to blow.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a book requires, by necessity, selecting just a few stories while leaving others untold. My life has been filled with remarkable people, with whom I’ve shared extraordinary moments. I wish I could include all in these pages. If you’ve been a part of my life—if you’ve been among those who supported me and laughed with me and rooted for me—please know that you’re in my heart, even if you’re not in these pages.
I am the player I am because of the teammates I’ve 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 we’d 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. I’ll bleed blue for the rest of my life.
And most of all to Bill Kenwright: your faith in me continues to be an honor.
It’s been a privilege to represent my country on the world stage. I’m grateful to U.S. Soccer for giving me the opportunity and for helping this New Jersey kid’s dreams come true. I’d 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. You’ve 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 different—and far less—without you. You’ve been a coach, a mentor, and a dear friend. You are with me every time I take my place in the box. Here’s to the 732.
To my many coaches: Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Alex Ferguson, Jürgen 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. I’m so honored to have shared time with you. And to the admirable people I’ve 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.
I’m endlessly grateful to my family. To my father: thank you for your love and support.
To Chris: you’re the warrior, my brother.
To my grandparents—Poppa, Momma, and Nana. I love you, and I know I’ll see you all again one day.
To my mom—my rock, my inspiration, my unconditional support.
To Laura. I’m 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.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
TIM HOWARD is the goalkeeper for Everton in the English Premier League and the U.S. Men’s 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 NBC’s 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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CREDITS
FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH © MARK TUCKER
COVER DESIGN BY GREGG KULICK
TITLE PAGE PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES
COPYRIGHT
THE KEEPER. Copyright © 2014 by Tim Howard. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST EDITION
ISBN: 978-0-06-238739-4
ISBN: 978-0-06-239628-0 (Signed Edition)
EPub Edition December 2014 ISBN 9780062387387
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