PLAYER PROFILE

Tim Howard

Position: Goal

Height: 6'2

Weight: 14st 2lbs

Date of Birth: 1979-03-06 North Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

Tim Howard

Tim Howard signed for Manchester United in July 2003, as serious competition for the number 1 spot at Old Trafford, along with Fabien Barthez, Roy Carroll and Ricardo Lopez. The New Jersey-born US international had previously been with local MLS team MetroStars.

Howard is considered to be one of the brightest keeper prospects in the world, and his displays in the MLS and at the 2003 Confederations Cup with the USA cemented United's interest in him, and despite some problems obtaining a work permit, he was signed for around £1.2 million, which could rise depending on how he does at United.

He started his career in 1997 with the North Jersey Imperials in the USISL, before signing professional terms with Major League Soccer a year later and being assigned to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. He made his debut in a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. In his first full season in 2001, he was named in the MLS All-Star team.

He was also given the MLS Aquafina Goalkeeper of the Year award and named as NY Life's Humanitarian of the Year. He suffers from a mild form of Tourette's Syndrome, and although it has never interfered with his career, he has worked hard to raise awareness in the USA of the disease and hopes to one day establish his own foundation to help fellow sufferers.

In 2002, he made his first appearance for the national team against Ecuador, keeping a clean sheet, and spent some time post-season training with Dutch club Feyenoord. However, it became clear in January that Manchester United were interested in signing him, and the move was finally completed in time for him to join his new team-mates on their tour of the USA.

Howard's first season in England was an undoubted success as he instantly became a regular, forcing Fabien Barthez out on loan. Although he was left out for a spell mid-season to give him a break, Howard was one of United's biggest successes, becoming the first American to win the FA Cup as well being named in the PFA Team of the Year.

But the American's 2004/05 campaign has been a little more shaky, though the same could be said of the whole of United's defense. With Roy Carrol posing a serious threat, Sir Alex Ferguson seemed unsure of who to play between the sticks. Howard ultimatly played 25 games and kept 12 clean sheets.

Roy Carroll's departure in the summer of 2005 and Howard's signing of a contract which will keep him with United until 2009 were good signs for his future. But Edwin Van Der Sar's signing from Fulham meant that he was again stuck on the sidelines in 2005/06.

In June 2006 he moved to Everton on loan, before making the deal permanent in February 2007. He is now the Toffees number one.