The Premier League is the dream destination for players all over the world. Since its formation in 1992, seven goalkeepers from the United States have featured in the English top-flight, making more than 1,000 appearances combined. Each stopper has played an important role in the soaring popularity of the game both at home and abroad.
Millions of fans tune into the Premier League every week with some placing wagers on the outcome of games to add an extra layer of excitement as the action unfolds. Using Betway bucks, soccer followers can back their favorite teams to win, pick out the top scorer come the end of the season or simply predict where a club will finish at the end of the campaign.
When it comes to the pitch, supporters love goals but epic saves and stunning stops by US goalkeepers have added to the thrill and drama. This article will profile the stoppers from America who have lit up the division.
Tim Howard
The former US international and World Cup hero first moved to England in 2003 with Manchester United but it was Everton where he became a Premier League icon. The stopper was a key member of the Toffees side that consistently challenged under David Moyes and such was Howard's reliability, between September 2007 and March 2013, he recorded 201 consecutive appearances.
Overall, the stopper made 399 league appearances for the two clubs and made memorable saves on a regular basis to write his name into Premier League folklore.
Brad Friedel
Friedel appeared for four different clubs in the Premier League across an 18-year spell in England. First joining Liverpool in 1997, he was a deputy at the Reds but appeared in 25 top-flight games before moving to Blackburn Rovers in 2000. It was at Ewood Park that he became a mainstay and enjoyed his longest run with a team, making 357 appearances as the club reached Europe.
From there, Friedel, who always played with a calm head at a top level, signed for Aston Villa and helped Martin O'Neil's side challenge for the top four. Ahead of the 2011/12 campaign, he signed for Tottenham and was again number one, becoming the oldest player to appear in the Premier League, before playing second fiddle to Hugo Lloris in later seasons.
Between 2004 and 2012, Friedel started every league game possible, appearing 38 times each season for eight years running. He is a true legend of the Premier League.
Kasey Keller
Keller somewhat led the way for other American stoppers to follow, first signing for Millwall from Portland Timbers back in 1992. After four years with the Lions, he made the step up to the Premier League with Leicester before joining Tottenham via Rayo Vallecano in Spain. Also appearing on loan for Southampton and playing 13 times for Fulham during the 2007/08 campaign, Keller made a total of 201 Premier League appearances.
Brad Guzan
Joining Villa in 2008, the same year as compatriot and namesake Brad Friedel, Guzan was a back-up stopper for the majority of his time at the club. It wasn't until 2012 that he became a regular starter though the end of his spell in England ended in relegation for the club.
Marcus Hahnemann
The majority of Hahnemann's time in England was in the Football League with Fulham, Rochdale and then eight seasons with Reading who he helped win promotion in 2006. The stopper played every game as the Royals enjoyed two campaigns in the Premier League, before he joined Wolves and later Everton.
Zack Steffen and Juergen Sommer
Steffen proved the US is still producing top goalkeepers when Manchester City signed him from Colombus Crew in 2019. A back-up stopper, he made two Premier League appearances. Going back nearly three decades, Juergen Sommer made 33 appearances in the English top-flight for Queens Park Rangers but it proved to be a season to forget for the Hoops as they were relegated.
Summing Up
Over the years, American goalkeepers have played a major role in the Premier League, starring for some of the biggest and most storied clubs in history. Having had such an impact, there is no doubt US stoppers will soon feature again in English football.