October 17: Howard Wins MLS Goalkeeper of Year

Nike Mercurial IX

Tim Howard became the youngest player to win the Aquafina Goalkeeper of the Year Award on this day in soccer history in 2001.

He also received the MLS Humanitarian of the Year Award that year.

The New York/New Jersey MetroStars netminder recorded four shutouts and a league-leading 146 saves, finished the year with a 1.33 GAA, and a 13-10-3 record. The fine outings in Major League Soccer as well as his form with the U.S. youth national team was a first step to become the next great goalkeeper for the Red, White and Blue.

--- World Soccer Shop has a great selection of goalkeeper soccer gear. Make sure your Number 1 has all the best from jersey, to shorts, to gloves and more. ---

He followed that up with a solid season in 2002 before Manchester United came calling in 2003 and signed Howard for $4 million transfer fee in the middle of the 2003 MLS season.

Soccer Birthdays

1934 – Johnny Haynes, English footballer (d. 2005)
1940 – Jim Smith, English footballer and manager
1963 – Sergio Goycochea, Argentine footballer
1976 – Sebastián Abreu, Uruguayan footballer
1977 – Dudu Aouate, Israeli footballer
1982 – Nick Riewoldt, Australian football player
1983 – Ivan Saenko, Russian football player
1987 – Jarosław Fojut, Polish footballer