Brian McBride

Brian McBride

Personal information
Full name	Brian Robert McBride[1]
Date of birth	June 19, 1972 (1972-06-19) (age 38)
Place of birth	, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Chicago Fire
Number	20
Youth career
1990–1993	St. Louis Billikens
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1994	Milwaukee Rampage	18	(17)
1994–1995	Wolfsburg	18	(2)
1996–2004	Columbus Crew	161	(62)
2000–2001	→ Preston North End (loan)	9	(1)
2003	→ Everton (loan)	8	(4)
2004–2008	Fulham	153	(40)
2008–2010	Chicago Fire	50	(16)
National team‡
2008	United States U-23	3	(0)
1993–2006	United States	96	(30)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 3, 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of March 26, 2009

Brian Robert McBride (born June 19, 1972) is an American soccer player who plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer (MLS). He has played much of his career in Europe, notably for Fulham in the English Premier League. During his time in London, McBride became a fan-favorite^[2] as well as team captain; after leaving the club, Fulham re-named the sports bar at Craven Cottage McBride's in his honor.^[3][4]

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. In his four years in high school, he scored 80 goals, 33 as a senior.^[5] McBride was also named an All-American by Parade Magazine.^[5] 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).^[5] While at school, McBride was a 1992 second team and a 1993 first-team All-American.^[6][7] 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. He trained at the world famous Magna Fitness Center.^[5]

Club

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."^[8]

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.^[9] Two years later, Premier League club Everton were 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 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.^[10] Everton, unlike Preston, merely sought to extend McBride's loan period, but MLS rejected it, preferring a transfer over an extended loan for McBride.^[11]

Fulham

McBride playing for Fulham in 2005

In January 2004, English 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 39 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 10 March 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.^[12]

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.^[13] McBride scored his first goal since his injury against Everton at Craven Cottage on March 16, 2008, in a 1-0 victory for Fulham.^[14][15]

On May 28, 2008, McBride announced that he would be leaving Fulham to return to the United States to play in MLS.^[16]

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.^[17]

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 the MLS. He expressed his desire to play for Chicago, his hometown.

On July 30, 2008, McBride was traded to the Chicago Fire for Chad Barrett, a first round pick in the MLS Super Draft and conditional future considerations. 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 were 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 his retirement, effective at the end of the 2010 MLS season.

International

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.^[5]

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. Both of McBride's goals in the 2002 tournament were match-winners for the United States (against Portugal and Mexico). 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.^[18]

Following the end of the tournament, McBride announced his retirement from international duty on July 26, 2006.^[19] 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.^[5]

On July 18, 2008, McBride was named as one of the three overage players on the U.S. Olympic Team and served as captain.^[20][21]

Honors

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup (1): 2002

Columbus Crew

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1): 2002

Fulham

• Player of the Year: 2005, 2006

Individual

• CONCACAF Gold Cup MVP: 2002
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Shoe: 2002
• Chicago Fire Team MVP: 2009
• Chicago Fire Team Golden Boot: 2009

See also

• List of current MLS players

References

External links

• MLS player profile
• YA player profile
• YA game reports and other articles
• Brian McBride career stats at Soccerbase
• Brian McBride's bio on usolympicteam.com

United States Squad United States squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Friedel • 2 Hejduk • 3 Pope • 4 Burns • 5 Dooley • 6 Regis • 7 Wegerle • 8 Stewart • 9 Moore • 10 Ramos • 11 Wynalda • 12 Agoos • 13 Jones • 14 Preki • 15 Deering • 16 Sommer • 17 Balboa • 18 Keller • 19 Maisonneuve • 20 McBride • 21 Reyna • 22 Lalas • Coach: Sampson United States squad – 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Third Place 1 Friedel • 2 Hejduk • 3 Berhalter • 4 Fraser • 5 Brown • 6 Harkes • 7 Lewis • 8 Stewart • 9 Moore • 10 Kirovski • 11 Bravo • 12 Agoos • 13 Jones • 14 McKeon • 15 Williams • 16 Llamosa • 17 Balboa • 18 Keller • 19 Olsen • 20 McBride • Coach: Arena United States squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Friedel • 2 Hejduk • 3 Berhalter • 4 Mastroeni • 5 O'Brien • 6 Regis • 7 Lewis • 8 Stewart • 9 Moore • 10 Reyna (c) • 11 Mathis • 12 Agoos • 13 Jones • 14 Cherundolo • 15 Wolff • 16 Llamosa • 17 Beasley • 18 Keller • 19 Meola • 20 McBride • 21 Donovan • 22 Sanneh • 23 Pope • Coach: Arena United States squad – 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup Third Place 2 Hejduk • 3 Vanney • 4 Bocanegra • 6 Gibbs • 7 Lewis • 8 Stewart • 10 Reyna • 11 Mathis • 12 Califf • 13 Mulrooney • 15 Convey • 17 Beasley • 18 Keller • 19 Ralston • 20 McBride • 21 Donovan • 24 Brown • 25 Mastroeni • Coach: Arena United States squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Howard • 2 Albright • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Mastroeni • 5 O'Brien • 6 Cherundolo • 7 Lewis • 8 Dempsey • 9 Johnson • 10 Reyna (c) • 11 Ching • 12 Berhalter • 13 Conrad • 14 Olsen • 15 Convey • 16 Wolff • 17 Beasley • 18 Keller • 19 Hahnemann • 20 McBride • 21 Donovan • 22 Onyewu • 23 Pope • Coach: Arena United States squad – 2008 Summer Olympics 1 Seitz • 2 Wynne • 3 Orozco • 4 Bradley • 5 McCarty • 6 Edu • 7 Holden • 8 Szetela • 9 Davies • 10 Feilhaber • 11 Adu • 12 Altidore • 13 Ianni • 14 Rogers • 15 Parkhurst • 16 Kljestan • 17 McBride • 18 Guzan • Coach: Nowak