Brian McBride

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Brian McBride
Personal information
Full nameBrian Robert McBride[1]
Date of birth (1972-06-19) June 19, 1972
Place of birthArlington Heights, Illinois, United States
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionStriker
Youth career
1990–1993St. Louis Billikens
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1994Milwaukee Rampage18(17)
1994–1995VfL Wolfsburg18(2)
1996–2003Columbus Crew161(62)
2000–2001Preston North End (loan)9(1)
2003Everton (loan)8(4)
2004–2008Fulham140(33)
2008–2010Chicago Fire59(18)
2012Wembley0(0)
Total424(145)
National team
1993–2006United States96(30)
2008United States Olympic5(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 24, 2010.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of March 26, 2009

Brian Robert McBride (born June 19, 1972) is a retired American soccer player who played for the Columbus Crew, Fulham F.C. and the Chicago Fire and is the third highest all-time leading goalscorer for the United States national team. For much of his career he played in Europe, notably for Fulham in the English Premier League.

During his time in London, McBride became a fan-favourite[2] as well as team captain; after leaving the club, Fulham renamed the sports bar at Craven Cottage McBride's in his honour.[3][4][5]

Early Career

High School and College

Born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, McBride played varsity soccer at Buffalo Grove High School, under coach John Erfort, where he led the Bison to the Illinois state championship in 1988, his junior year. During a playoff game against Fremd, McBride broke his nose in the first half, but came back into the game to score the game-winning goal. In his four years in high school, he scored 80 goals, 33 as a senior despite playing his senior season as a defender.[6] In the regional final against Stevenson High School his senior season, McBride played goalkeeper, stopping four of eight penalty kicks and running up the other end to score five on the counterattack after the game ended tied.[7] McBride was also named an All-American by Parade Magazine.[6] Later, as a professional, he signed a contract with Nike with the condition that the boys' varsity soccer team receive new uniforms every two years.

McBride had an illustrious career with Saint Louis University, from which he graduated in 1993. In his four seasons with the Billikens, he played (and started) in 89 games, and set career records for goals (72), assists (40) and total points (184).[6] While at school, McBride was a 1992 second team and a 1993 first-team All-American.[8][9] He also was named Most Valuable Player of the Great Midwest Conference three years straight, as well as being named to the All-Conference first-team during this stretch. He trained at the world famous Magna Fitness Center.

Club Career

Milwaukee Rampage

McBride briefly played for the minor league Milwaukee Rampage. In 18 games, he scored 17 goals and assisted another 18. That year also saw Tony Sanneh playing with the Rampage. Both Sanneh and McBride would play professionally in Germany, in MLS and on the U.S. men's national team.

They linked up for a historic goal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. In a game against Portugal, Sanneh, playing right back, played a cross into the box which McBride put into the top corner. After the game, McBride mentioned, "We joked about it in the locker room, it is a play we have done a thousand times [while teammates with the Milwaukee Rampage]. "I took a step in at the far post and lost my marker. He delivered a beautiful cross and I knocked it home."[10]

VfL Wolfsburg

In 1994, McBride left the United States to ply his trade in Germany. At the time, VfL Wolfsburg played in the German Second Division and provided several aspiring American players an opportunity to play football in Europe. These included Chad Deering, Claudio Reyna and Mike Lapper, as well as McBride. McBride struggled to find playing time with the club and also had difficulty scoring. However, one of his two goals came in an 2–1 victory over Bayern Munich's reserve ream in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals – Wolfsburg would go on to reach the final, although McBride did not feature. At the end of the season, McBride gained a release from Wolfsburg and when MLS was created, chose to return to play in the United States.

Columbus Crew

McBride returned to America in 1996 for the inaugural season of Major League Soccer, for whom he was the first overall pick of the MLS Inaugural Draft. McBride would proceed to play eight years with the Columbus Crew, amassing 62 goals (no longer tied for the club record with Jeff Cunningham) and 45 assists in 161 league games, before his move to England. In 2005, he was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI.

In 2011, the Crew honored McBride by naming him the inaugural member of its Circle of Honor.

Loan spells in England with Preston North End and Everton

While playing for Columbus in the MLS, McBride spent two loan periods in England. The first came in 2000 when McBride played for Preston North End, then managed by David Moyes. While McBride played well for the club, he sat out several games after having a blood clot surgically removed from his arm, which consisted of having a rib removed.[11] The clot came as a result of a hard collision McBride had suffered during his first game with Preston. As McBride's loan spell came to an end, Preston attempted to purchase his contract from MLS for $1.8 million. MLS rejected it, considering McBride to be worth twice that amount.[12] Two years later, Premier League club Everton were beginning to slide down the table. David Moyes, now with Manchester United, remembered McBride's success with Preston and sought the forward's services to help Everton. During McBride's three months with the club, he did not disappoint Moyes, scoring four goals in eight games, including his first game with the club, a 4–3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. He made close friends during the short time with players such as Leon Osman (with whom he still plays football) and Richard Wright.[13] Everton, unlike Preston, merely sought to extend McBride's loan period, but MLS rejected it, preferring a transfer over an extended loan for McBride.[14]

Fulham

McBride playing for Fulham in 2005

In January 2004, Premier League club Fulham bought McBride's rights from MLS for $1.5 million. He played 18 games during the last half of the 2003–04 season, scoring a total of five goals. His scoring pace remained steady through the next two seasons. In 2004–05, he played 31 league games and six cup games, scoring six league and three cup goals. In 2005–06, he played 38 league games and one cup game, scoring 10 league goals and one cup goal. McBride's original contract with Fulham continued only through the 2005–06 season. However, on March 10, 2006, he signed a one year extension which took him through the end of the 2006–07 season. On February 2, 2007, he signed yet another one year extension, taking him through the 2007–2008 season. He has a reputation as a battler with a high work rate, a trait prized in English football.

McBride was Fulham's top scorer for their 2006–07 Premier League campaign with twelve goals to his name. He was given Fulham's captaincy in August 2007.[15]

When scoring the opening goal in a home match against Middlesbrough on August 18, 2007, McBride dislocated his kneecap. He wouldn't make his return to action until a friendly against Cardiff City in late January 2008, and resumed his Premier League duties as a substitute against Aston Villa on February 3, 2008.[16] McBride scored his first goal since his injury against Everton at Craven Cottage on March 16, 2008, in a 1–0 victory for Fulham.[17][18] The then-Fulham manager Chris Coleman commented it was such a shame that McBride hadn't been 'discovered' earlier in his career, and played more in England.

After scoring twelve goals in 2006–07 season which helped Fulham retain their Premier League status, on May 14, 2007, McBride won the Club's Player of the Year award. He won it again in 2008, and became such a popular figure that the club renamed a bar inside Craven Cottage "McBride's" in June 2009.[3][4]ref name="Hospitality" />

On May 28, 2008, McBride announced that he would be leaving Fulham to return to the United States to play in MLS.[19]

Chicago Fire

McBride playing for Chicago in 2010

Following the end of his one-year contract extension, McBride decided to return to the United States to end his career in MLS. He expressed his desire to play for Chicago, his hometown. However, Toronto FC held the top spot in the allocation order, the process by which U.S. National Team players returning to MLS find teams in the league.

On July 30, 2008, the top spot in the allocation order was traded to the Chicago Fire for Chad Barrett, a first round pick in the MLS SuperDraft and conditional future considerations. The Fire used the top spot to obtain McBride. He made his Fire debut on August 16, 2008, coming on as a second-half substitute against D.C. United. McBride scored his first goal against Houston Dynamo. McBride scored the first goal in the MLS Playoff Eastern Conference Championship against the Columbus Crew, his former club. However, Chicago lost that game 2–1 and was kept from being in the MLS Playoff final.

McBride scored nine goals during the 2009 season, including two goals in the three SuperLiga games in which he played.

On September 3, 2010, McBride announced that he would retire following the 2010 MLS season. McBride scored his 80th career goal (in MLS) during his final match before being substituted off to a standing ovation.[20]

Wembley

In June 2012, he was one of several former professional footballers who agreed to join Wembley F.C. to play in their FA Cup campaign for the new season. McBride and fellow former internationals Ray Parlour, Martin Keown, Claudio Caniggia, Jaime Moreno, Danny Dichio and Graeme Le Saux, plus David Seaman (goalkeeping coach) and former England manager Terry Venables (technical advisor), have come out of retirement to play for Wembley F.C. who will be featured in a television documentary as they endeavour to help the club play at Wembley Stadium.[21] Wembley were knocked out in a replay by Uxbridge after initially setting up the tie by knocking Langford out in the previous round.[22]

International Career

McBride was a significant player for the United States national team, earning 96 caps and scoring 30 goals for the national team. He made his international debut in 1993.[6]

He was part of the U.S. team that played at the 1998, 2002, and 2006 FIFA World Cups. He scored at the 1998 and 2002 tournaments and in doing so, became the first American player to score at two World Cups. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan have since equaled this feat. McBride is third behind Bert Patenaude and Donovan for the most World Cup goals for an American with three.

On May 2, 2006, McBride was named to the U.S. roster for his third consecutive World Cup. At the 2006 World Cup, McBride was severely bloodied in a group stage match against Italy after being elbowed in the face by Daniele De Rossi. He needed three stitches. As punishment, De Rossi was banned for four matches and fined CHF 10,000.[23]

Following the end of the tournament, McBride announced his retirement from international duty on July 26, 2006.[24] He is the first-ever spokesperson for the Central Ohio Diabetes Association. He donated $100 to the association for every goal and assist he tallied for the U.S. National Team.[6]

On July 18, 2008, McBride was named as one of the three overage players on the U.S. Olympic Team and served as captain.[25][26]

Coaching

McBride established the Brian McBride Soccer Academy which is based in Lake Zurich, Illinois.

Career statistics

As of November 14, 2011

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Germany League DFB-Pokal Other Europe Total
1994–95Wolfsburg2. Bundesliga182000000182
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
1996Columbus CrewMajor League Soccer28170032003119
1997136004100177
199824103254003216
1999255225000327
2000186100000196
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2000–01Preston North EndFirst Division9100000091
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
2001Columbus CrewMajor League Soccer151200000171
2002145425200239
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2002–03EvertonPremier League8400000084
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
2003Columbus CrewMajor League Soccer24120000002412
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2003–04FulhamPremier League164310000195
2004–05316204300379
2005–0638100011003911
2006–073894300004212
2007–08174000000174
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
2008Chicago FireMajor League Soccer115003100146
2009227003000257
2010266100000276
Total Germany 182000000182
USA 2208013628100026196
England 1573894540017141
Career total 3951202210331400450144

International goals

Honors

Club

United States
Columbus Crew
Fulham
  • Player of the Year: 2005, 2006

Individual

References

  1. Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946-2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 386. ISBN 1-85291-665-6. 
  2. Quarstad, Brian (June 17, 2009). "Sports Bar at Craven Cottage to be Renamed After Brian McBride". InsideSoccer.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Lewis, Brian (June 23, 2009). "Fulham renames pub after Brian McBride". New York Post. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 In McBride's Honour. Fulham F.C. June 17, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  5. "McBride's". Fulham F.C. Retrieved 27 November 2013. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Biography". US Soccer. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2007. 
  7. "McBride sets standard as Player of Year". Chicago Sun-Times. November 4, 1989. 
  8. "1992 All Americans". NSCAA. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  9. "1993 All Americans". NSCAA. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  10. "USA vs. Portugal Game Story". USA Today. June 5, 2002. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  11. Carlisle, Jeff (September 3, 2010). "An American Trailblazer". ESPN. Retrieved September 4, 2010. 
  12. "McBride's swan song for Preston North End to come Wednesday against Wolverhampton". Soccer Times. March 8, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2008. 
  13. "Christmas hangover carries into new year". 4thegame.com. February 2, 2003. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  14. "McBride to leave Everton". BBC. March 20, 2003. Retrieved January 11, 2008. 
  15. "Club Captain". Fulham F.C. August 8, 2007. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  16. "Match Stats". Fox Sports. February 3, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2008. 
  17. Lewis, Aimee (March 16, 2008). "Fulham 1–0 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved March 16, 2008. 
  18. "English Premier League Roundup, Mar. 16". MSN. March 16, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2008. 
  19. "Fulham hit by McBride blow as striker goes home". ESPN. May 28, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  20. "Ljungberg steals show in McBride, Brown farewell". chicago-fire.com. October 24, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2010. 
  21. "Terry Venables' Wembley FC recruit former stars for FA Cup". BBC Sport. June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012. 
  22. "VIDEO: Wembley Cup dream over". thefa.com. August 30, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013. 
  23. "Italy's De Rossi gets four-match ban from FIFA". ESPN. June 23, 2006. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  24. "McBride, second leading scorer in U.S. history, retires". ESPN. July 26, 2006. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  25. "McBride to lead US football Beijing Olympic challenge". The Sydney Morning Herald. July 18, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 
  26. "U.S. Men's Olympic Team Ties Ivory Coast 0–0 in Hong Kong in Warm-Up Match". United States Soccer Federation. July 30, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2013. 

External links

Preceded by
Mark Chung
MLS Fair Play Award Winner
2003
Succeeded by
Eddie Pope


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