McBride Stays True to (Columbus) Crew
Two significant matches will be played today on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
In London, Everton will take on Arsenal, knowing that a victory over the defending English champion will greatly enhance its chances of qualifying for the European Champions League next season.
In Columbus, Ohio, Major League Soccer’s Crew will take on Deportivo Arabe Unido (DAU) of Panama, knowing that anything less than a victory will eliminate it from the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Last week, Brian McBride had a difficult decision to make: Would he play for Everton or would he play for the Crew? The choice was his.
To the delight of MLS and the enormous relief of Crew Coach Greg Andrulis, the U.S. national team striker opted to fly home Friday, cutting short his three-month loan with Everton by a couple of days simply to help the team he has starred for since 1996.
“Brian coming back to play with Columbus in the Champions Cup is a hugely important statement because of what it says about Brian McBride,” Ivan Gazidis, the deputy commissioner of MLS, said during a Thursday conference call.
“It says Brian has priorities that are not just about money and being on the world stage and playing in front of millions of people. His priorities are about the Columbus Crew and its fight to win the Champions Cup and MLS Cup 2003.
“That speaks volumes about the type of person that Brian McBride is.”
What the 30-year-old two-time World Cup player is, in short, is an example to every aspiring American soccer star, all the way from 13-year-old Freddy Adu, just starting out on his international career, to 20-year-old Landon Donovan, who already is well into his.
McBride has been a class act from the beginning, a player of total commitment on the field and engaging personality off it, and his decision last week to put the interests of his MLS club ahead of personal glory came as no surprise.
Had he played for Everton today, he might very well have added to the four goals and two assists he produced in eight games during his all-too-brief spell in the English Premier League.
Arsenal’s games are televised worldwide, and McBride could have enhanced his already glowing reputation.
“We’ve always said that we’ve got players who can play at the highest level in the world,” Gazidis said. “We’ve not had enough opportunities to prove that, but Brian was given an opportunity to play in one of, if not the, best leagues in the world, and in the short amount of time available to him he snatched that opportunity with both hands and lit up that league. He was the most important midseason signing in that league and he made a huge impression.”
So much so that Everton, fifth in the Premier League, made an attempt to buy McBride outright from MLS, which owns all player contracts. The two sides could not agree on terms.
Still, McBride had one weekend left in England and the chance to go up against the likes of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Martin Keown.
Instead, he chose Columbus, not only because the Crew had lost its first Champions Cup game, 2-1, to DAU in Panama last Sunday, but because it had also lost striker Jeff Cunningham to a red card.
“With the Crew losing Jeff for this next game, it was important that I get back and help out the Crew as much as possible,” McBride said. “I have to thank [Everton Coach] David Moyes for letting me go two days early. It was a pretty big decision. Deep down, he probably wanted me to be a part of it [Everton’s continuing attempt to qualify for Europe].
“It’s unfortunate I’ll miss out on the Arsenal game, it would have been a great game to be part of, but the overall picture was more important, to get back and help Columbus.”
The fact that the Crew had allowed him to join Everton during the MLS off-season also played a role in his decision, McBride said.
“The Crew had been ever so supportive of me coming over here [to England] and knew that I might possibly miss the first round of CONCACAF Champions Cup,” he said. “That was a concern to them, but they gave it a go and wanted me to try it.
“Given the situation, it was important to give the respect back to them and help out my teammates. I’ve been a part of Columbus for a long time now and I have very strong feelings for [the Crew players], the city and the fans, and I thought it was the right decision.”
McBride, who had played for Moyes at Preston North End during an earlier stint in England, said he had enjoyed his latest foray but, in typically modest fashion, added that he did not see himself as a pioneer for other Americans wanting to make a mark in the Premier League.
“There have been players over here,” he said. “[Blackburn Rover goalkeeper] Brad [Friedel] has been tearing it up over here. There have been other Americans here who have done it before me. There’s John Harkes. And Claudio [Reyna] has done great in Britain [with Rangers and Sunderland].
“As far as opening doors, I think doors have been opened by other players. I hope that people start understanding that there is the possibility of bringing in Americans and that they can help. If I played a part in it, that’s great.”
After today’s game, McBride heads for Seattle and the U.S. national team’s match against Venezuela on March 29.
Then he will return to Ohio for the Crew’s MLS season opener April 5 against the Galaxy, which also has a must-win CONCACAF Champions Cup game today -- against CD Motagua of Honduras at Cal State Fullerton.
Asked whether putting on the U.S. jersey means more now in time of war, McBride agreed that it does.
“It definitely focuses you in on what you’re doing,” he said. “What makes playing for your country special is different for everybody. But it’s easy to quantify it when you see your countrymen putting their necks on the line, literally. Yes, it’s special.”
