U.S. star goalie Howard to retire after 2019 season

Tim Howard, longtime U.S. men’s national team star goalie and keeper for the Colorado Rapids, announced Tuesday on social media that the 2019 season will be his last in Major League Soccer.

“I’m greatly looking forward to kicking off the 2019 MLS season, as it will be my LAST,” he wrote on Twitter. “There will be plenty of time for sentiment later. For now, I am going to enjoy every minute. And as I’ve always done, compete hard and help lead the Rapids with the sole purpose of winning.”

This will be Howard’s 10th MLS season and his fourth with Colorado. The New Jersey native joined the league in 1998 and played six seasons with the then-New York/New Jersey MetroStars before departing for Europe in 2003. He spent three seasons with Manchester United before joining Everton until his return to MLS in 2016.

Howard, who turns 40 in March, is the nation’s leader in international appearances (104) and wins (55) among goalkeepers and is second in shutouts (35). He served as the starting goalie for the USMNT in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and set the record for most saves (15) in a FIFA World Cup match in USA’s Round of 16 loss to Belgium in extra time in 2014.

Howard has played 160 MLS games (158 starts) making 699 saves and posting a 58-70-30 record with 33 shutouts. In his 399 Premier League appearances, Howard amassed 992 saves, 132 clean sheets and a 173-102-124 record.

–Field Level Media