Multilateral force: U.S. soccer's top player—and chief ambassador—dispenses invaluable wisdom about being an American abroad - Interview: Brad Friedel - Interview

Soccer Digest, March, 2003 by Ashley Jude Collie

EVERYTHING IS COMING UP ACES for Blackburn Rovers and U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel. In 2002, he helped Blackburn win the Worthington Cup--their first cup in 74 years--and backstopped the U.S.'s remarkable quarterfinals appearance in the World Cup.

When the 2002-03 English Premier League season kicked off, Friedel immediately staked his claim as the country's best goalkeeper. He turned in a string of outstanding performances, was named to the weekly EPL Team of the Week three times within a two-month period, and earned accolades up and down the nation.

In mid-November, Friedel had knee cartilage surgery. Less than two weeks later--in his first game back--he stopped a penalty kick and made a trio of superb 88th-minute saves to give Rovers a one-goal win over Fulham. After the match, Rovers manager Graeme Souness said: "I'm not going to tell you [again] how good he is, but he did his bit."

This year the Rovers manager hasn't needed to boast about his goalie--his peers have done it for him. "Friedel must have got changed in a telephone box," said Southampton gaffer Gordon Strachan after the American made multiple spectacular saves to ensure his team an ill-deserved draw. "I wouldn't be surprised if when he takes his shirt off, there's a blue jersey with an `S' printed on it."

Friedel's wife, Tracy, adds: "After the World Cup, his popularity has blown up here. Many English fans [wish he weren't] American. There's a sign that reads BRADLEY FOR ENGLAND that is hung at games. That's the ultimate compliment."

Never has an American been called the best at his position in the EPL but at 31, Friedel is coming into his prime and is doing just that, and more. He's now being mentioned with Germany's Oliver Kahn and Italy's Gianluigi Buffon as one of the greatest goaltenders in the world. SOCCER DIGEST caught up with Friedel, who after spending almost six years in Britain has picked up a subtle English accent, and is totally at peace with his sporting life.

SOCCER DIGEST: Why did you choose to have surgery during the season?

BRAD FRIEDEL: My knee had been affecting me for about a year. It just started locking in October--virtually every time I was training or playing--and was beginning to be really painful. I was playing through pain during the World Cup--it flared up a couple of times.

SD: In 2002, you firmly established yourself as the Rovers' No. 1, won the Worthington Cup, got to the World Cup quarterfinals, and now you're being called "Superman"--not a bad year, eh?

BF: Actually, the past three years have been really good. Ever since I made my move from Liverpool to Blackburn, everything's been really, really good.

SD: BBC commentators and managers are calling you best goalie in England. Besides hard work, why has that happened now?

BF: There are a lot of reasons that a goalkeeper becomes successful. For one, I'm playing with a manager who I respect and who respects me. I also have a very good relationship with my back four, and that always helps.

SD: Some have described your time at Liverpool as a "nightmare." What is your recollection of those days?

BF: It really wasn't a nightmare. The club was in transition and if I would've known that going in, I probably would have signed with Rangers. But I'd given my word to Liverpool. Mr. [Gerard] Houllier has done a fantastic job coming in and turning them around. It's taken a lot of money to do so.

You know, in times of adversity you learn a heck of lot more than you do when everything is going well. You learn about yourself and what not to do in certain situations, and you learn about other people and how they act when results are not going your way. When your supporters expect you to win every single time, you're not winning, and minor errors are magnified by the media, it's an invaluable experience--albeit one nobody But if you get through it, you can come out a stronger person.

SD: Given the intense competition in Europe, have you found things a little bit more cutthroat and unforgiving?

BF: Than in America? Multiply it a thousand times! The game is a religion over here. People plan their weekends around where their team is playing. And their mood is determined by how the team performs. If the team wins, they're on a high; if it loses, they're on a low. They want immediate results and most fans should get them. They're the ones that essentially pay all of our wages--and we're on very, very good wages these days--and, in a way, our team is owned by the community in which it plays.

SD: America seems to have a knack for developing goalies. Do you think the athletic ability of American-born goalies is a big advantage?

BF: Well, the opportunity to play different sports as a child and develop hand-eye coordination helps, but I still think players who are raised in Europe have a head start. Most American players will never understand the pressure of having an entire city hate or love them, or an entire country think they're either great or crap. How good or bad you are doesn't really matter in some of those instances. If a player does well and goes out and reads all of his positive press, that can be as, if not more, detrimental than if he plays poorly and reads all his negative press.