Friedel, Brad

Position: Goalkeeper
Date of Birth: 05/18/1971
Height: 6' 4"   Weight: 200 lbs
Pro Team: Blackburn Rovers
College Experience: UCLA
Caps: 82
Shutouts: 21

Biography:After having difficulty acquiring a work permit in England and then not getting much of a chance to play at legendary club Liverpool, Brad Friedel has settled into Blackburn's net to make an immediate impact on the English First Division and then the Premier League. He has now made over 250 appearances for Rovers.

Consistent performances both at the club and international levels have made him a constant presence for the U.S. national team, for whom he is the second-most capped goalkeeper ever. As a junior at UCLA, he won the 1993 Hermann Trophy as the best player in college soccer.  Friedel's tremendous shot stopping ability and confidence in his own area make him one of the most reliable players on the National Team. His performance at the 2002 World Cup cemented his legendary status in US soccer history.

Following his stellar performance at the World Cup, Friedel was named to the Premier League team of the year in 2002-03, enhancing his reputation as one of the top goalkeepers in the world. Announced his retirement from the National Team in 2005.

National Team Highlights:
2005 - Announced retirement from the US National Team in February.
2004 - Played one game, against Poland on March 31, posting a 1-0 shutout.
2002 - Started all five games at the World Cup, stopping penalty kicks against Korea and Poland in first round of the 2002 World Cup and finishing fifth in the tournament in saves with 20. Over the year, split time in net with Kasey Keller, starting nine games for the US, and earning 23rd international shutout in win over Mexico.
2001 - Made a string of impressive saves to help the US beat Mexico 2-0 in Columbus to kick off the final World Cup qualifying round in style.
2000 - Started all three matches in the Gold Cup, giving up two goals in three matches. Started six matches in the 2000 Olympic tournament.  The team made it to the semi-finals partially due to Friedel's consistency and leadership.
1999 - Shut out Germany and Saudi Arabia in the Confederation's Cup, where the US finished third.
1998 - Played in the final US match at France '98, giving up a faultless goal against Yugoslavia.
1997 - Won the final three of his ten caps in World Cup qualifying shutouts that led the team to the World Cup finals.
1996 - Played all three matches in the US Cup, including an excellent performance in a 2-2 draw with Mexico.
1995 - Played perhaps his best match ever, saving two spot kicks in a penalty-kick victory over Mexico in the quarterfinals of the Copa America.
1995 - Helped the team to a US Cup title with a shutout of Colombia.
1994 - Was a member of the team that reached the second round of the World Cup and played in 10 matches in  the sourse of the year
1993 - Established himself as a trustworthy goalkeeping option, earning 16 caps.
1992 - Played in the Olympics in Barcelona.  Won his first international cap and also recorded his first shutout, against Canada on September 3.

Professional Highlights:
2007-08 - Began season as he finished the last, as starting goalkeeper. Helped Blackburn challenge for a mid- to upper-table position in the first half of the season.
2006-07 - Made 53 appearances in all competitions for Blackburn, as team finished tenth and reached FA Cup semi-final. Saved two penalties in single game against Sheffield United.
2005-06 - Had a record of 24-15-7 in overall competitions as team finished sixth and qualified for the UEFA Cup.
2004-05 - Played 38 League games and seven FA Cup games.  Helped Blackburn advance to the semifinals of the FA Cup and had a solid season.
2003-04 - Played all but two of Blackburn's games in the 2003-04 season, posting nine shutouts and scoring a dramatic late equalizer off a corner kick at Charlton
2002-03 - Became first American named to English Premier League Team of the Year.
2002 - Signed new four-year contract with Rovers.
2002 - Named the sixth-best goalkeeper in the world by IFFHS.
2001- Backstopped Blackburn to Worthington Cup title and tenth place in the English Premiership.
2001 - Led Blackburn to second in the English First Division and promotion to the Premier League.
2000 - Brought to Blackburn Rovers by former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness on a free transfer in November, and quickly became the number-one goalkeeper for the side.
1999 - The arrival of Dutch international Sander Westerveld and work permit problems signalled the end of Friedel's time at Liverpool.
1997 - Made a high-profile move to one of the most popular clubs in the world, Liverpool.  Played in their final eleven matches of the season, helping the team to 18 points in that stretch. Prior to that, won Major League Soccer's Goalkeeper of the Year award, leading the league with eight shutouts and the lowest goals-against average (1.2).
1996 - Joined the Columbus Crew of MLS and made an immediate impact.  After his arrival the Crew won eight of their final nine matches with Friedel recording four shutouts and winning the MLS Player of the Month award.
1995 - Signed with both Turkish giants Galatasaray and Danish side Brondby after his attempts to get an English work permit were denied.  He played 10 matches for nine-time Danish champions Brondby and led Gala to the Turkish FA Cup.

Youth and college:
Played forward as a youngster and winning the Ohio state championship was one of his first soccer memories. Won the 1990 NCAA Division I Championship in his freshman year at UCLA, saving penalty kicks in the semi-final and final.  Was an All-Ohio basketball player at Bay High School in Cleveland and lettered in soccer, tennis, and basketball.

Training:
Credits his all-year around conditioning for his success with Blackburn and the U.S. "I stay in shape all year because when you play with the National Team you only get maybe three to four weeks off in the summer." Adheres to very strict diet during the season: "I tend to have a strict diet of mainly proteins, very little carbohydrates, a lot of sport drinks and a lot of water. My pre-match meal consists of two eggs and two poached chicken breasts."

Brad's advice for young players:
"As a player there are always things to work on.  That is the great thing about soccer, you can never fully master it something always happens that has never happened before."

Personal:
Married to Tracy, and the couple has two daughters, Izabella and Allegra. Finished in the top five on the National Team during France '98 training in the vertical jump, the 12-minute run, the shuttle run, and the 40-yard sprint. Nickname: Bradders.  Enjoys renovating houses. Says his best moment in soccer was "the day I finally received my work permit to play in England.  If I didn't get that, there would be no other moments."

Quote about Brad:
"I believe that Brad is one of the top three goalkeepers in (England) at the moment. I have worked with him before, and I had no doubts about his ability when I brought him here." - former Blackburn coach and Liverpool legend Graeme Souness.

BRAD'S QUICK KICKS:
Favorite musician/band/singer: Dave Matthews
CD in my player right now: Natalie Merchant/Tigerlilly
Favorite actor/actress: Halle Berry
Favorite movie: Gladiator
Favorite TV show: Any channel that is showing a football match or "Friends"
Favorite book: A Time to Kill
Favorite food: Salmon
Favorite vacation spot: Bora Bora
Favorite place to live: so far it would be Southern California
Favorite sport other than soccer: hockey
Favorite stadium to play in: It would have to be Ewood Park, where I play now for Blackburn Rovers