Tim Howard

Tim Howard (born March 6, 1979, in North Brunswick, New Jersey) is a soccer goalkeeper, the first American to play for Manchester United's first team.

Howard started his pro career immediately after high school, playing with the North Jersey Imperials of the USISL. He was signed by Major League Soccer in 1998 and was assigned to the MetroStars, for whom he played until 2003, the last three seasons as the starting goalkeeper. He was named MLS's Goalkeeper of the Year in 2001 and to the league's Best XI in 2001 and 2002, the year he was first capped for the United States National Team. Manchester United signed Howard in the middle of the 2003 MLS season, and he replaced French International Fabien Barthez as the club's first-choice goalkeeper. He started off very well at Manchester United, saving the decisive penalty in the Charity Shield against Arsenal. However, later in the season Howard suffered from loss of form after Manchester United's early exit form the UEFA Champions League. After a short period of rest, Howard reclaimed his starting position and played in the 2004 FA Cup Final, picking up a winner's medal. He was the first American to do so.

Howard suffers from a mild form of Tourette's Syndrome and was named MLS's Humanitarian of the Year in 2001 for his work with children afflicted with Tourette's.