Brad Friedel adores bus anarchy
The keeper witnessed chaos in Turkey before finding the net for Blackburn – then breaking a Premier League record
Yes, Liverpool actually. When I was growing up in Cleveland, there was hardly any football on television, but I went on a family trip when I was 10 or 11 and watched Liverpool. I fell in love. From that point, I wanted to join them.
Was it always a dream to play in England? As a youngster, you had trials with English clubs but could never secure a work permit. How frustrating was that?
Very. I signed a contract with Newcastle and went there for three months while we tried to get my work permit through on appeal. Then I signed a contract with Sunderland, but that got denied too. I tried again at Southampton as well. I had a trial at Celtic and was offered a contract, but didn’t accept it – I’m not sure I’d have got a permit there, either. You had to feature in 75 per cent of your national team’s matches for the previous two seasons, which was hard to do as a young keeper. But it took me to Brondby and Galatasaray – I wouldn’t have had those experiences otherwise.
At Galatasaray, you beat Fenerbahce in the 1996 Turkish Cup Final at their own ground, then boss Graeme Souness famously stuck a Gala flag in the centre circle of the pitch... The pressure in that derby is up there with the biggest in the world. Dean Saunders scored in extra time, and for Graeme it was jubilation and happiness. I think he knew he was being replaced – not because of results, but due to a presidential election, so he had frustrations. When we were on the podium lifting the cup, the home fans chucked missiles at us and we had to leave the podium before everyone had received their medals! Dean and I looked at Graeme, thinking, ‘ Where’s he going?’ He ran over, grabbed a big flag from the stands, then staked it in the centre circle. That goes down in folklore! It was massive news. Galatasaray still celebrate the anniversary of that. It’s like a national holiday for supporters – they make tifos and sell shirts. We stayed in the dressing room for two or three hours afterwards – we couldn’t leave the ground for safety reasons. The windows on our bus were shattered, and fans tried to tip the bus over as we left. What a great experience, though.
What did it mean to join Liverpool in 1997?
It was enormous. There was a lot of emotion, because of how long it took me to get a work permit. Then my first three months there was probably the worst I played in my whole life! I was so erratic. By the time I’d settled down, Gerard Houllier – God rest his soul – had come in and there were changes. They brought in Sander Westerveld and it was very difficult to get in the team. It was a shame things never worked out the way I wanted them to, but it was an honour to play for Liverpool.
You linked up with Souness at Blackburn, helped them to promotion, then put in an excellent performance in the 2002 League Cup Final victory over Spurs...
Lifting trophies is what the game’s all about. We were depleted with injuries and suspensions against a strong Tottenham side. No matter which keeper played that day, they were going to have to make a few saves. Luckily I did, and we always had goals in us. Matt Jansen and Andy Cole were hot at the time, and both scored. Blackburn was a really good period in my life. Truly, the supporters should know just how much the club means to me.
In 2004, you scored a 90th- minute leveller at Charlton – only for Claus Jensen to bag an injury- time winner for the Addicks. How did you feel?
I don’t talk about that too much, because we lost. If I’d been able to tip that shot over the bar, maybe I’d talk about it more, but I didn’t so it’s just a quiz answer. I was devastated at full- time - I knew the questions were going to be about how fantastic it was to score, but it wasn’t because I conceded 90 seconds later.
You were regarded as one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers. Did Blackburn receive many offers?
Manchester United and Arsenal came in, but it wasn’t down to me – it was about reaching an agreement on the transfer fee. Even when I was 37, I think Blackburn got something like £ 2.75 million for me to go to Aston Villa. Man City made the same offer, so I had to choose. Thaksin Shinawatra was still the owner at City and they were experiencing some difficulties financially. I decided to go to Villa and don’t regret my decision one bit.
You set a record for the most consecutive Premier League appearances ( 310) across your career at Blackburn, Villa and Spurs...
At the time, because it’s not a trophy, I didn’t think much of it. I simply tried to stay fit, work hard and hopefully get picked. Looking back, I don’t know if the record will ever be broken. Luck goes into it – I had a red card overturned when I was at Villa and had a dead leg before a Rovers match against Sunderland, but the undersoil heating broke and it was called off. When Andre Villas- Boas pulled me out of the Spurs team I was actually playing well, even though I was 41. They had just signed Hugo Lloris and Andre kept me in, but I think there was some pressure from France coach Didier Deschamps before an international week, so Andre selected Hugo and I played in the next game. My record could have been 311 or 312 – I’ll take it up with AVB if I see him! [ Laughs]
How have you found coaching so far?
I was head coach of the USA Under- 19 team, assistant coach of the U20s, then head coach of New England Revolution. I enjoy coaching. Would I do it long term? I’ll have to wait and see. I was scarred by a few things in my last job. If there’s ever an opportunity, I’ll have my eyes wide open. I’ll be more inquisitive about what’s above me at the club, as opposed to what’s below. But along that journey, I recruited Carles Gil at New England and had a very good rapport with his agent, so I’ve opened the US office for his agency in Miami. That’s what I’m doing today.
There have been talks. Right now, I’m really happy with the agency business, but it’s that old saying – ‘ Never say never in football’.