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Men’s Soccer: FIFA Club World Cup, Al-Sadd SC vs. Esperance Sportive de Tunus Men’s Soccer: FIFA Club World Cup, Flamengo vs. Al Hilal FC
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FLYERS TEMPLE
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY » Zack Steffen is the new Tim Howard. Sort of.
The United States national team goalkeeper admired Howard growing up and now he’s being mentored by him in Europe.
It’s been a breakout year for Steffen, the Downingtown native and former Philadelphia Union Academy player who signed for Manchester City in July for a record transfer fee for a Major League Soccer goalkeeper, then was loaned to Fortuna Düsseldorf and earned the starting job.
Any up-and-coming U.S. goalkeeper is going to be compared to a string of outstanding predecessors, including Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller and Howard, whose 121 international games is the U.S. record. Steffen chose the No. 24 when he came to Fortuna. Sure, the No. 1 shirt was taken, but 24 was Howard’s number with Premier League club Everton when Steffen was growing up.
“He was massive for me. I mean he’s the one that really showed me that I could go over there, obviously come over to Europe and play,” Steffen said. “Tim Howard, he was athletic. He was quick. He was like a cat in goal. And I loved to watch him.”
Steffen is in regular contact with Howard, whose last match for the U.S. was the crushing loss at Trinidad and Tobago two years ago and who retired at the end of the MLS season.
“We’ve been in contact and he’s offered to give me advice and kind of be a mentor for me whenever I need it, which is awesome,” Steffen said.
Fighting relegation from the Bundesliga, Fortuna offers Steffen plenty of chances to show what he can do. He’s made 59 saves this season, the secondmost in the league.
Sometimes those saves can win Fortuna a game. Steffen was widely praised for 10 saves as Fortuna beat Werder Bremen in his first game in August. Sometimes they are just damage limitation. Fortuna has lost to Bayern Munich 4-0 and to Borussia Dortmund 5-0.
“We get a lot of shots,” he said, but adds that he is also trying to start more attacks. “I’d say I’m a good shot-stopper, but we like to live on the counter. So I’m trying to improve my game in that, and seeing where I need to put the ball when I get the ball.” Steffen has big plans. Right now — keep gaining attention at Fortuna. Next season — get into the squad at Man City, where Ederson is the starter and Claudio Bravo the primary backup. Longterm — success with the U.S. national team on home soil at the 2026 World Cup.
Steffen will be 31 and hopefully at his peak when that tournament comes around.
Hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico will be an “amazing opportunity” to grow soccer in the United States, said Steffen, who grew up watching any men’s or women’s national team games he could.
As the U.S. rebuilds from failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Steffen has seized his moment. He made the first of his 16 appearances in January 2018 in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina and has captained the team twice this year.
“There’s definitely a sense of starting over. It’s a whole new coaching staff. And for a lot of the guys, it’s a whole new way to play the sport,” Steffen