The bizarre story of Brad Friedel’s alleged attempt to block Tim Howard’s 2003 move to Manchester United has taken its final twist, as Howard is asking his publisher to amend the controversial account in his new book, “The Keeper.”
Friedel was outraged at claims in Howard’s book that he did not help his fellow United States goalkeeper get a job in the Premier League because it was easier than his route. Friedel, the current Spurs backstop, demanded an apology.
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And now Howard has “accepted” that the story wasn’t true.Statement just released from Tim Howard. Glad it’s over, happy to move on. pic.twitter.com/fcSg3Z22Jn
— bradley h friedel (@friedel_b) December 16, 2014
In addition to making first editions of “The Keeper” a collector’s item of sorts, the statement also calls into question what sort of relationship existed between the goalkeepers that this story was never spoken about before publication, or what sort of fact-checking was involved with the book.
The whole incident is extremely unfortunate, and takes away from Howard’s interesting telling of his rise to soccer prominence while dealing Tourette Syndrome. I’ve been reading the book, and that issue is fascinating.