Tim Howard has announced that he will take a one year break from the US Men’s National team, from now until the end of the 2015 Gold Cup.
It has been indicated by both him and Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann that this matter had been discussed and that Klinsmann has given his blessing. Howard has been a rock in the back for the Yanks for many years. He has earned the right to take this break. He will be given a fair chance to compete for the starting spot when he returns. He must earn it back from whichever keeper(s) is(are) playing regularly.
As much as I would love to go at Landon Donovan’s critics who disapproved of his sabbatical and agreed with Klinsmann’s decision to leave him out of the World Cup, Howard’s sabbatical is apples to oranges with Donovan’s.
Howard is taking a break from just USMNT. Donovan took a break from both international and club soccer. It’s obvious to anyone that Jurgen and Donovan never liked each other. I wouldn’t say Timmy has been a coach favorite, but he’s certainly been well-liked.
More critically, Howard’s break also comes at the perfect time to take a break. The missed friendlies are hardly a big deal. The 35-year-old will not be available for the 2015 Gold Cup, but the US already won it in 2013. No risk of missing the playoff for the Confederations Cup. Plus, Klinsmann has historically given European-based players time off during the summer as they are in the off season and need a break. Howard might not have even been called in anyways.
If Tim Howard is held out of any friendlies or tournaments after this year, it will not be because of this break. What then does his USMNT career look like after he returns?
The key decider for me is how much longer Howard intends to play internationally. With everything Howard has done from the years of being a rock between the pipes to the 16 saves against Belgium, he could have retired after the World Cup as the best goalkeeper in US history. He has nothing left to prove. No one would have blamed him. My guess is that either he’s recharging his batteries for another cycle or biding his time because he’s not sure how much longer he’ll play.
I don’t see Klinsmann giving minutes to a player who isn’t going to be around for something significant, like the World Cup or at least Copa America Centenario. Every match from now until those competitions is a chance for Klinsmann to evaluate a potential starter or give said starter valued playing time to prepare for those competitions. With the exception of Nick Rimando (same age as Howard), every keeper in the US pool is young enough to play the next two World Cup cycles. If Howard comes back and wants to start, it is going to have to be with the understanding that he’s not retiring anytime soon. He needs to make it worth Klinsmann’s time. I trust this has been and will continue to be discussed between the two.
While it might not seem likely, I can’t rule out Howard making it to another World Cup. Yes he’ll be 39, but he’s under contract with Everton through 2018 and has been healthy throughout his career. (Brad Friedel’s still with Spurs and he’s 43). Tim had a 210 match appearance streak snapped in 2013 due to a finger injury. He hasn’t had an issue since that finger injury. The guy is one of the Iron Men of the EPL. If in 2018, he is starting for Everton, healthy, and playing well, he will be in the running for if not the favorite to start in Russia.
I think he and Klinsmann could find some middle ground in the 2016 Copa America Centenario. Howard could use that as a send off if he thinks he’s running out of gas. It would be two years before the World Cup and about a year before the Hexagonal and the Confederations Cup. Howard could continue to provide leadership for a back line as it takes shape and as Guzan (or whomever) is waiting in the wings. Howard retires after the tournament and there’s still enough time for the new starter to get reps before Russia. I don’t think this is likely, but it’s the only non-bitter ending I see where Howard retires by choice before the World Cup. Any other case, he’s retiring having been dethroned.
Howard is a team guy, so I don’t see him retiring immediately if he comes back and doesn’t win the job. He would be a solid back up and he could act as a mentor/coach to the new starter. As the backup, him being on the team at his advanced age would be less of a concern. Even if he’s a little banged up going into an international play period, I don’t see his age being a distraction or a detriment.
Regardless of what Howard’s national team career looks like after his hiatus, I hope it’s happy and ends on a good note. He’s the greatest American keeper of all time and he deserves it, starter or not.
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