Major League Soccer

MetroStars keeper Howard's transfer to Manchester United appears imminent.

Tim Howard's MLS career might end this weekend. -- MetroStars web site photo --

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Thursday, June 5, 2003) -- United States men's coach Bruce Arena has released goalkeeper Tim Howard from training to return to the MetroStars for their Major League Soccer match Saturday night in Kansas City, Mo. It might well be the last match Howard plays for the MetroStars.

The British press, such as the Express newspapers and The Independent of London, reports a deal has been struck that will send Howard to Manchester United on a four-year contract that will pay Howard about $25,000 a week -- vastly more than the reported $275,000 he makes annually in MLS -- and MLS will net a transfer fee of between $2.2 million and $3 million, depending on how many appearances Howard makes in the Man. U. nets.

"I know things are moving forward, but I can't talk about it at all," Howard said this afternoon after U.S. practice at George Washington University for Sunday's match against New Zealand in Richmond, Va.

Howard did say he is excited about the possibility of moving to a major European team -- no less the English Premier League champion and world-wide icon -- but it would appear to be premature to say the deal has been completely finalized. Reportedly, there is an agreement in principle, but documents still have to be signed.

One potential snag remains -- obtaining a work permit needed to play in England. Howard hopes to avoid the usual problems Americans face by applying for Hungarian passport. Howard's mother is Hungarian. Even though Hungary is not a current member of the European Union, because it is in the process of joining, its citizens are extended the benefits of an EU passport for employment purposes.

Still, obtaining a Hungarian passport is a lengthy process. "I'm told it could be eight-to-10 months," Howard said.

Otherwise, Howard does not come close to meeting the requirements of obtaining an English work, primarily that non-EU citizens must have played in two-thirds of their national team's "official" matches over the prior two years. Friendlies do not count as official matches. Since shutting out Ecuador 1-0 in Birmingham, Ala., on March 10, 2002, in his U.S. debut, Howard has made a total of six international appearances, but none in official matches.

Even if the U.S. advanced to the semifinals and Howard started in all five possible matches of this month's Confederations Cup in France, Howard would not come close to being eligible.

Reportedly, Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson wants Howard to join the club as soon after the Confederations Cup as possible. He admits he has never personally seen Howard play and is doing the deal based on the strong recommendation of his goalkeeping coach and scout Tony Coton.

Unless the passport situation can be expedited, Man. U. seemingly could pursue three potential scenarios. It can appeal the initial rejection of a work permit and Howard could be granted the permit based on his recent play with the U.S. national team -- the appeals board seems to treat goalkeepers more leniently than field players. Or, at least theoretically, the appeals board can take note of the fact that he is qualified for a Hungarian passport and has made the proper application, and then grant the permit as if he holds the passport already.

Finally, the board could grant the permit on what would be called a hardship basis. Actually several American players now in England have gotten work permits based on hardship on the grounds they will have high-paying jobs should the permits be granted (as opposed to looking for work).

Another option would have Man. U. loan Howard to a German or Dutch team until his Hungarian passport is issued.

Manchester United's goalkeeping situation is unsettled, to say the least. For years, Danish keeper Peter Schmeichel was rock solid and considered by many the best to ever to play in the Premiership. After he left Old Trafford in 1999, several keepers came and went, including the Australian national team's Mark Bosnich.

Then, before the 2000 season, Ferguson dug deep into Man. U.'s treasury to sign French national keeper Fabien Barthez away from AS Monaco in France for a reported $12.5 million transfer fee.

Barthez has had an up-and-down career at Manchester. Even after capturing the Premier League title this season, the 31-year-old Barthez fell out of favor after his errors were seen as the reason his team was ousted by Spain's Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Barthez has three seasons to go on his contract, but he thinks he has played his last match for Ferguson. "It seems I am not good enough," he told the British press after being displaced by Northern Ireland international Roy Carroll after losing 6-5 on aggregate to Real in the two-match Champions League quarterfinal.

Carroll is probably not slated to be Manchester's starter. A virtual who's who of goalkeepers have been mentioned as possible Ferguson targets including England's two national keepers: David James of West Ham United and Paul Robinson of Leeds United, Finland's national keeper Antii Niemi of England's Southampton, Turkey's Rustu Recber of that nation's Fenerbahce and American Brad Friedel, the star of the Premier League's Blackburn Rovers.

It looks highly unlikely that, despite his promise, Howard would be Ferguson's starting keeper when Man. U resumes league play in August. Whether he backs up Barthez, someone else, or plays on a loan, it looks like he will soon leave MLS and become a wealthy young man.

Robert Wagman is a SocccerTimes senior correspondent and can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com.