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Brian McBride

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For other people of the same name, see Brian McBride (disambiguation).
Brian McBride
Personal information
Full name Brian McBride
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Striker
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 December 2006

Brian McBride (born June 19, 1972) is a football striker who has appeared in three World Cups for the United States national team and is the ex-captain of Fulham F.C. of the English Premier League.

Before joining Fulham, McBride had previously played in England for Everton in 2002 and Preston North End in 2000. Before that, McBride played for VfL Wolfsburg of the German 2 Bundesliga and the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, for whom he was a fan favorite. He is known for his sportsmanship, strength and his fantastic aerial ability, often considered to be one of the best headers in the Premiership.

High School

McBride, a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, 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. In his four years in high school, he scored 80 goals, 33 as a senior.[2] McBride was also named an All-American by Parade Magazine.[2] 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.


Saint Louis University

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).[2] While at school McBride was a two time All-American. He also was named MVP of the Great Midwest Conference three years straight, as well as being named to the All-Conference first-team during this stretch.[2]

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 the 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 (at 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."[3]

Germany

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 upset victory over Bayern Munich in the German Cup quarterfinals. 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 (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.

Loan spells in England

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. 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.[4] Two years later, Premiership club Everton was beginning to slide down the table. David Moyes, now with Everton, 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 victory over 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.[5] Everton, unlike Preston, merely sought to extend McBride's loan period, but MLS rejected it, preferring a transfer over an extended loan for McBride.[6]

Fulham

McBride playing for Fulham in 2005

In January 2004, English Premiership club Fulham bought McBride's rights from MLS for $1.5 million along with midfielder Alistair Bygrave who later left the English Premiership for the Korean K-league. By this time, McBride was approaching the end of his contract with MLS and the league sought to profit from his transfer as much as possible. They had retained McBride in MLS in order to maximize on his appeal to the fans, but did not want another situation similar to Joe-Max Moore who left MLS for Everton for little more than a token transfer fee. Therefore, the league settled for less than even Preston had offered in 2000 to transfer McBride to Fulham. When McBride arrived in Fulham, he scored his first goal in his debut game – against Tottenham again.

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 6 cup games, scoring six league and three cup goals. In 2005–06, he played 39 league and one cup games, scoring 10 league 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 Premiership campaign with 12 goals to his name. He was given Fulham's captaincy in August 2007.[7]

After scoring the opening goal in a home match against Middlesbrough on August 18, 2007, McBride dislocated his kneecap. He made his return to action in a friendly against Cardiff City in late January of 2008, and resumed his Premier League duties as a substitute against Aston Villa on February 3, 2008.[8] McBride scored his first goal since his injury against Everton at Craven Cottage on March 16, 2008, in a 1-0 victory for Fulham.[9][10]

On May 28, 2008, he announced that he would be leaving Fulham to return to the United States to play in MLS.[11] Currently Toronto FC holds the rights to sign him. It has been suggested that they might sign him then trade him.[12]

Player of the season

After scoring 12 goals in 2006–07 season which helped Fulham secure premiership status, on May 14, 2007 McBride won the player of the year award.[1]

National team

McBride was a significant player for the United States national team, earning 95 caps and scoring 30 goals for the national team. He made his international debut in 1993.[2]

He appeared in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups, and is the only American ever to score goals in more than one World Cup, doing so in the tournaments of 1998 and 2002. Both of the goals he scored in the 2002 tournament were game-winners for the United States (versus Portugal and Mexico). McBride is second behind Bert Patenaude for the most World Cup goals for an American with three.

On May 2, 2006, McBride was named to the US roster for his 3rd consecutive World Cup. At the 2006 World Cup, McBride was severely bloodied in the Group Play match against Italy. Daniele De Rossi elbowed McBride in the face, requiring the American to get three stitches. De Rossi was banned for four matches and fined CHF 10,000.[13]

McBride announced his retirement from international football on July 26, 2006.[14] 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.[2]

Honours

Columbus Crew

International

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Biography". Fulham F.C. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Biography". US Soccer. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
  3. ^ unkown (2002-06-05). "USA vs. Portugal Game Story". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  4. ^ "McBride's swan song for Preston North End to come Wednesday against Wolverhampton". Soccer Times. 2001-03-08. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  5. ^ "Christmas hangover carries into new year". 4thegame.com. 2003-02-02. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  6. ^ "McBride to leave Everton". BBC. 2003-03-20. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  7. ^ "Club Captain". Fulham F.C. 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  8. ^ Match Stats, FOX Sports, 2008-02-03, retrieved 2008-02-04 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Lewis, Aimee (2008-03-16), Fulham 1-0 Everton, BBC Sport, retrieved 2008-03-16 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ English Premier League Roundup, Mar. 16, MSN, 2008-03-16, retrieved 2008-03-16 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ Fulham hit by McBride blow as striker goes home, ESPN, 2008-05-28, retrieved 2008-05-28 {{citation}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/05/29/toronto-fc.html?ref=rss
  13. ^ "Italy's De Rossi gets four-match ban from FIFA". ESPN. 2006-06-23. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  14. ^ "McBride, second leading scorer in U.S. history, retires". ESPN. 2006-07-26. Retrieved 2008-01-11.

External links

Preceded by MLS Fair Play Award Winner
2003 		Succeeded by

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