Photo by ISIphotos.com
U.S. men's national team legend and Chicago Fire captain Brian McBride has enjoyed one of the most successful careers in American soccer history and that career will close its final chapter at the end of this MLS season.
McBride will announce his retirement today, effective at the end of the season, sources have told SBI. The 38-year-old striker began his professional career 16 years ago in Germany before signing with Major League Soccer and becoming the first draft pick in the league's history.
McBride enjoyed nine memorable seasons with the Columbus Crew, and two successful loan stints in England (with Preston North End and Everton) before signing with Fulham. He became a folk hero at Craven Cottage during his four-year stint, serving as the club's leading scorer and captain before returning to MLS in 2008 with the Chicago Fire.
To many American fans, it will be McBride's contributions to the U.S. national team that stand out the most, with his three World Cups, 96 appearances and 30 international goals before his retirement in 2006.
Here are a pair of tribute videos that do a great job of summing up his contributions through the years:
What do you think of the news of McBride retiring? Where does he rank among your favorite American players all time?
Share your thoughts below.
In the perfect world his retirement would be on all the papers and his final match would catch record ratings and a sold out stadium and former teammates complimenting him on his prowess for goals. But alas we live in the USA but 1 positive is in 20 or 30 years, kids will remember his name and be refered to as “a young McBride”
A good question would be when Dempsey has left Fulham, would he have had a greater impact with FFC than McBride?
Dempsey scored the goal to save them from relegation in 07. Top scorer with 6 goals in 18 appearances as a striker in first half of the season than moved to midfield in 07-08 season. Scored braces against Chelsea and Man City and Blackburn. Scored the best goal in the Europa League last season against Juventus.
can we compare this to McBride?
Our Goalkeepers are well known in Europe
so is Claudio Reyna.
And Dempsey and Donovan are pretty much Big stars for us comparably but McBride is a LEGEND.
My first memory of McBride was when I played against him during a youth tournament (20+ years ago). His team demolished us…but even as a kid he was classy and respectful to his opponents. Later, I followed him as an avid fan of the USMNT.
One of my all-time soccer hero’s. As suggested by someone above, I too kind of hope that USMNT and BB would call him in for the Poland Match and give him a Camio appearance as a fitting send off for one of the ALL Time Great USMNT players.
Best goal?
Hard to say. But that header against Everton on his return from injury in March 08. 1-0 FFC. Legend
I remember in the WC2002 Portugal game after the US was clearly on the road to victory, McBride was fouled pretty brutally every time he was near the ball, often after he played the ball and was crashed to the ground. It was so clear that the opponents were taking their frustration out on him, yet he never took the bait by retalliating, He simply smiled, and maintained his composure.
A real class act in every sense!
McBride is a part of Fulham trivia.
What striker saved FFC from relegation from 04-08?
McGod of course
Funny, you put bleeding face in there, I was just going to say the image he will be remembered by was a bloody head that refused to quit playing.
Which game ? Too many to count.
Tough, hussler, who you knew you could count on to leave it all on the field.
anyone know his stats with Fulham? I know he scored tons of headers. Unbelievable how he had so much aerial presence despite being just 6 feet tall. Also gave great assists.
did you guys know in 06-07 McBride and Bocanegra led Fulham in scoring with 9 and 5 goals a piece.
You wanna know how big McBride is? Well a few years ago I was in Sweden with a friend and at this pub and met a friend of hers. The friend left up and so left me alone with her friend. We started talking football and I mentioned Fulham and he was like ” oh yeah McBride”. Unbelieveable. And this past WC I talked to an English friend in Stockholm and he mentioned how he gave big respect to McBride. He’s a LIVING LEGEND.
He was a beast for the US Nats and in Europe, and while he was very good in MLS, I always felt like he could have done more here. Probably due more to lack of service than any shortcomings of his own since he needed good service to be truly effective.
I echo the sentiment of having Bradley call McBride in for the friendly in October and giving him a well deserved send off. Probably won’t happen since Bradley has work to do to get new players integrated into the side, but it’s a nice thought.
End of.
Best American striker ever.
Davies and Altidore have a long way to go to even get half of what he’s achieved.
Hey ives, how about top 5 McMoments. I will suggest top 5 moments of his USA career:
1. The 3-0 vs Portugal, first round, 02 World Cup
2. The 1-0 vs Mexico, second round, 02 World Cup
3. The 1-0 vs Guatemala at RFK, qualifying for 02 World Cup
4. The Rocky Balboa black eye vs Mexico, qualifying for 02 World Cup
5. Bleeding face vs Italy, 06 World Cup
you can’t blame a player for wanting to play in his hometown… he’s a legend, and he represents everything that is good about US soccer.
He lives just down the road from me.
If I see him I’ll have to tell him congratulations on a fantastic career.
Brian has long been one of my favorite players. Not just for his abilities, but also for his work rate and desire. As a loyal Crew fan, I love that he came up through the Crew and did so much for our organization in the early years. I was at the game in ’98 when he scored the MLS Goal of the Year and i’ll never forget it. I was sad to see him leave, and it’s sad to see him retire. Good luck in the future Brian.
I first saw Brian McBride play in the ’98 World Cup vs. Iran. I was impressed with him then – I think he was the only American that had a decent game. I remember thinking later that, although our team had a horrible cup, at least one of the younger US players showed some promise. Its only right that he went on to have such a great club and national career. He always played his heart out, and you can’t help but admire that.
Yikes, everyone needs to chill out.
While it was heartbreaking to watch the face of our franchise and greatest player rebuke us upon his return for one of our most despised rivals, there is no doubt McBride deserves respect from U.S. fans, Crew fans, and those fans who will not be named directly. Maybe now that he’s retiring, some bitter people in Columbus can begin to heal.
Columbus is a great place to live, but Crew fans could learn to have more respect for our clubs heroes. The reception we gave McBride for the conference final in 2008 was fitting and deserved, but someone like Jeff Cunningham should never be taunted in Crew Stadium. Jeff’s forced departure was followed by 3 years of dismal play from the Crew (I referred to as the Cunningham Curse). Luckily, the displays of disrespect towards Cunningham were minimal last week.
Many forget that he did not get an extended run in Europe until he was the wrong side of 30 and yet still he made his permanent mark there. We also tend to forget that once — before the 02 World Cup –even loyal USA fans dismissed him as “McHead.” His goal celebration vs Portugal in 02 is my single strongest memory of that amazing run and he was an inch from scoring in a 3rd straight World Cup in 06. But as a Fire fan I knew he was done last year, when he slowed up several promising counters in the conf final loss to RSL. I wish he had retired then, for his sake. But he remains class — even as he warmed up on the sidelines last week, only to never come into the game, he clapped when they announced the big crowd in Seattle. Brian, here is applause for you, because things for soccer fans in this country (and at Craven Cottage) would not be where they are today without your contributions.
a road warrior!
What a legend. I hope Bob calls him up for the Poland match so he can go out in style.
I know he has been internationally retired for awhile now but it would be pretty classy if Bob called him in and gave him on final cap infront of the crowd in Chicago.
He deserves to have a statue somewhere.
Legend
How about you show some respect to an American legend! Goodness gracious.
What the hell is wrong with you?
Great discussion topic!
Do you base it on contribution to the team specifically? In which case Donovan gets it.
But if you base it on contribution to the game of US soccer, out of the two, McBride gets it hands down.
For me, this is a better version of the Fulham Tribute. It’s from the Fulham website and I think just has a better song.Brian McBride is a legend.
http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2008/May/McBrideSalute.aspx
The passing of an era, as MLS’s first draft pick retires.
McBride was easy to admire: always the hardest worker out there on the pitch, and a classy guy to boot. Plus, he had the skills to excel. I hope USMNT and MLS fans appreciate all he’s done for the game.
Agreed, we may have more talent in the team now but not half the heart he had. Brilliant leading striker and without any fear in the box.
Sadly, they just don’t make them like that anymore…
Fulham legend.
Appreciate what he did, but as a Fire fan, I’m glad he’s moving on.
Great player – and thanks for the hard work!!
” I still remember McJudas’s face when he was walking off of the pitch at Crew stadium in the Eastern conference finals in 08. Priceless!!!”
Yea, but then he got to go back to Chicago and you had to go home to some trailer in Columbus. I’m pretty sure most MLS players would rather go 0-30 than live in Columbus.
Saw McBride put one past Timmy Howard at the Cottage a few years ago, on the way to keeping the whites up for the year. At the pub after the match, when the highlights came on, the whole place erupted into chanting his name just as they’d done at the match. It was awesome! Brian was always top class and he was so well respected. I remember several EPL managers throwing accolades his way after he’d scored or been a perpetual thorn up front….I remember sir Alex saying he was the “best header of the ball in the league” once in a post-match interview. Anyway, congrats Brian and thanks for the memories.
Pure class, pure heart, pure finishing ability. He will be missed. My favorite goal was his header against Portugal in the 2002 WC. I was behind the goal…what a feeling…
More than anyone on the Nats, this guy has given the US more pride and excitement for his accomplishments during our transition period (going from relative amateurs to top professionals). watching the highlights reminded me of some great performances and exciting qualification cycles. I’m glad to have had a couple of chances to see him visit our stadium when we played the Fire. Best of luck in retirement and if only for him, I hope Chicago makes it to the Final for the East.
Mcbride was an absolute beast in the air and easily one of my favorite us players of all time. Priceless reaction after the goal against Portugal. Saw him play a couple times at the Cottage and Fulham fans loved him as well. Good luck McBride…hope to see ya coaching in the near future
Troll, please learn the difference between “your” and “you’re” before posting. Slow head.
I don’t think I every really appreciated McBride for just how good he really was. That’s probably because Fulham games were hard to find on TV during some of his best years. His strike rate was pretty impressive, and to have earned the captaincy speaks volumes. Surely he broke down barriers for American players in Europe and the EPL especially. Seems he has to be in the conversation for greatest american player ever, right? Can we so confidently put Landon above him?
The Fulham FC tribute video that they showed on their website used “Hero” by the Foo Fighters and not Chad Kroeger’s “Hero” which is the one you have up there.
Not to nitpick but the Foo Fighters song fits the tribute, American’s overall love for the guy as USMNT player, and his impending retirement much better.
Musical taste aside, McBride is a legend and I hope we see another like him in the near future.
I hope you get hit by a bus.
Best American striker ever
Very sad day. I enjoyed watching him single handedly keep fulham out of relegation with like 10 games to go when he came back from injury. Excited to go see fulham play in a few weeks and have a drink at his bar.
I hope this story is wrong, but he is the reason I fell in love with the Nats. I hate the fire, but always root for him. Thank you McBride for instilling that passion, and always playing with massive heart. You will always be the best player to ever put on the USMNT jersey, in my eyes. Enjoy the family life, you deserve it!
McBride.Legend.
Good riddance McJudas. How does it feel to know you were never able to help your team win MLS Cup. We all know your not going to this year. I still remember McJudas’s face when he was walking off of the pitch at Crew stadium in the Eastern conference finals in 08. Priceless!!!
I’m Honored to have been able to see him play once. He was my favorite player on the national team and it is really just a sad that he is retiring. That said, Thank you for everything Brian, and Congratulations on your retirement.
He will be missed, now lets just get him to coach our team!
Great player. I wish we had a few more like him.