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Memory Lane: Tim Howard’s last MLS Match

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                                                     Photo by ISIphotos.com

Time does fly. With soccer a year-round endeavor it is easy to let the years slip by and not even realize how much time has passed since some memorable moments that don’t really seem that far away.

Leave it to Red Bulls guru Dan Ryazansky, operator of MetroFanatic, to remind us when memorable dates go by. He reminded us that today marks Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of Tim Howard’s last match with the MetroStars. The match itself, a 3-3 tie against New England that saw the Metros come back from a 3-0 deficit, was memorable enough. That it was the last match of Howard’s stellar MetroStars career made it special.

I had the chance to talk to Howard before the USA-Argentina match last month and the subject of his departure came up when we started talking about Jozy Altidore’s transfer. "I can’t believe it’s been five years," Howard said that day. He also revealed a very interesting nugget. The fact that he didn’t have to play in the game.

With Howard’s transfer to Manchester United a done deal, Howard could have just packed up and ended his MetroStars career a game early. He refused to do that, choosing instead to play and give fans one more chance to see him play.

"Maybe it’s just me but I couldn’t imagine not playing," Howard said.

MetroStars fans never saw him in a Metros uniform again, but they did get to see him again that same summer, when he returned with Manchester United for a friendly against Juventus. It was another unforgettable moment, seeing a packed Giants Stadium applaud Howard. Moments like those are why Howard, upon being told that the Argentina match might be his last at Giants Stadium (and what a match that was for him), insisted that he would find a way to get a piece of the stadium before it’s torn down. He certainly deserves one.

Yes folks, that was five years ago. The summer of 2003. Time does fly.

Comments

  1. I can’t believe its been 5 years since Tim Howard decided to play for Man United. That was my senior year in high school! Where the hell does the time go? Still pleased he’s done well with Everton though.

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  2. Tim Howard has always seemed to me a 100% class act and Metro hasn’t had a goalkeeper of his caliber since he left. One of the best Metros ever.

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  3. I remember Timmys farewell match. I had been watching mls since its inception but like a typical eurosnob I doubted Timmys quality’s a bit. Until last years LAG-NYRB’s match at Giants stadium, Tim’s farewell match was the best mls match I’d ever seen. Timmy was FABULOUS and I’ve been a big fan ever since. Class guy.

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  4. Moreno is DC Scum and never should’ve been here in the first place. Almost similar is Razov, who will always be Shitcago — at least prior to Chivas — as far as I’m concerned.

    Mathis, on the other hand, = Metro Legend.

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  5. I understand the sentiment David Harris but I think it’s misguided. Soccer is a capitalist business and the best players will go where they can get paid the most. They can get paid the most in the top leagues with the most investment. It’s asking way too much of MLS to be a top league after a decade. In the long run, sure, I’d love for MLS to become a top league and keep top American players here. Baby steps

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  6. Its just another sad commentary on the state of the MLS when the top American keeper plays abroad. What is going to draw the fans to the stadium and get them to watch the games on TV? MLS needs to change the way it conducts its business in order the build a quality league that can develop top quality American players and attract top players from other international leagues. Soccer is never going to get a top place in the American sports world until these things happen.

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  7. I was at the Juventus game, and sat in front of some die hard ManU fans, who were not, to put it lightly, all that excited about the Howard transfer. Thought he was going to be awful. It was amazing to tell them before the game that they were wrong and then have them totally converted by how awesome he was in his ManU debut.

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  8. A good friend of mine played against Tim in high school. He said that they ran into eachother not long ago and Tim actually approached him. Sounds like one of the most down to earth guys ever, a very refreshing story to hear.

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  9. I was at the first Metros match without Timmy I think 2-3 days later in the US Open Cup against the Michigan Bucks in Berkley, MI. I remember buying my ticket holding out hope he’d be with the Metros a bit longer so I could see him play on a tiny high school field in MI — it wasn’t to be. I got to see Jonny Walker instead which was still a treat.

    Can’t believe that was 5 years ago.

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  10. I was there for both matches, the Howard farewell and Argentina game, Ives. Tim goes down as the most popular Metro ever (though Gio Savarese fans might argue, and I might agree). Both great servants for the NY/NJ Franchises and MLS and US Soccer

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  11. TIMMMAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!

    I’ve seen a lot of legends at that stadium and I’m not sure I’ve ever given a personal ovation to any like the one I gave Howard after that United match. I definitely lost my voice.

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