Howard Glad to Be in England
Perhaps Major League Soccer can take a perverse pride in losing 24-year-old Tim Howard.
After all, the New York/New Jersey MetroStar goalkeeper is bolting the United States’ domestic league for far greener pastures with Manchester United, and his seasoning in MLS is a big reason he was so highly sought after by the 15-time English Premier League champion.
Howard, who is also a U.S. national team goalkeeper, agreed to a four-year contract on Monday with Manchester United and became the first MLS player to sign with the prestigious club. The transfer fee is also expected to be the largest paid for an MLS player, though terms were not released. The New York Times reported earlier this month that MLS and Manchester United were in discussions for a $3-million transfer fee, which would eclipse the $2.5 million England’s Nottingham Forest paid for Columbus Crew forward Stern John in 1999.
“I just feel blessed,” Howard said in a release. “Not many people are given this opportunity. I am just so happy.”
Howard, 6 feet 3 and 230 pounds, left for England on Sunday but will be minding the nets stateside later this month when he returns for Manchester United’s American tour, a trip that will include a match against Club America of Mexico on July 27 at the Coliseum.
He is expected to be in goal on the tour as starting goalkeeper Fabien Barthez is not scheduled to travel after he received extra time off for previous international commitments.
Howard, who has nine appearances with the U.S. national team with three shutouts and an 0.63 goals-against average, will be the third U.S. national team goalkeeper to play for a Premier League club team, along with Kasey Keller (Tottenham) and Brad Friedel (Blackburn).
Cuba Beats Canada
Lester More’s two goals Monday night led Cuba to a 2-0 victory over Canada in a Group D CONCACAF Gold Cup game at Foxboro, Mass.
More’s first score came in the 15th minute off a Jaime Colome through ball, and he added insurance at the start of the second half, converting a short cross pass from Pedro Adriani Faife on the right side.
The victory puts Cuba in control of its group heading into Wednesday’s match against Costa Rica, which lost to Canada, 1-0, in the opener.
A Return to Israel?
Security concerns by European soccer’s governing body have kept international matches out of Israel for almost two years. But the country’s foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, urged officials on Monday to return.
“We think there is a huge change in the region,” Shalom told Associated Press, “and this huge change can bring with it the fruits of the peace process to the Israeli people.”
Shalom also said that he had told Gerhard Aigner, the chief executive for UEFA, and other officials that the Middle East peace process and a cease-fire have restored stability to the country and that he had brought letters of support from eight European foreign ministers, including Germany’s Joschka Fischer, Italy’s Franco Frattini and Spain’s Ana Palacio.
The last international match in Israel was its national team’s 1-1 draw with Austria in October 2001. Israeli clubs and the national team have since played home games primarily in Cyprus, Italy and Turkey.
Quick Passes
Manchester United chief executive Peter Keynon said he was “very confident” of signing Brazilian star Ronaldinho this week. The team has reportedly offered between $26 million and $30 million for the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder. Meanwhile, several reports said United has agreed to sell Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron to Chelsea for $22.7 million.... Frenchman Phillippe Troussier, who led Japan to the round of 16 at the World Cup last summer, has signed a two-year contract to coach Qatar’s national team.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
