Tag: 901 FC

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Sports Sports Feature

Tim Howard Comes Out of Retirement to Join 901 FC Roster

CREDIT: 901 FC

Once part of the game, always part of the game. Earlier today, Memphis 901 FC owner Peter Freund and president Craig Unger announced the signing of Tim Howard to the team’s playing roster for the 2020 USL season. Howard, already a part-owner and sporting director of the organization, will now juggle three separate positions for 901 FC.

“Since my retirement in October, my obsession for football has grown,” said Howard upon signing his contract. “The desire to win continues to drive me. I love to play, and I love to compete, this gives me the opportunity to do both.”

901 FC

Craig Unger and Tim Howard

If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry; last year, Howard simultaneously handled responsibilities for both 901 FC ownership tasks and his playing duties for the Colorado Rapids in MLS, telling Memphis magazine at the time that there are “enough hours in the day” to fulfill his various commitments.

Pending league approval, Howard is set to start in goal for Memphis this Saturday, March 7th, at the opening day match against Indy Eleven. With more squad involvement than ever, Howard’s ambition to make 901 FC a USL contender remains firm. “I’ve made a commitment to the City and people of Memphis to build a perennial playoff team. One whose goal continues to be lifting the Eastern Conference trophy and ultimately bringing the USL Cup to AutoZone Park,” he said.

Head coach Tim Mulqueen stated Howard’s addition would spread that enthusiasm to the rest of the squad while respecting the managerial hierarchy. “When he’s in the locker room as a player, he will act as a player,” said Mulqueen. “His focus is only going to be on winning. There will be very clear lines that the players will recognize.”

Howard’s last professional outing came against LAFC last October. During his career, he made 399 appearances for Manchester United and Everton in the English Premier League, and made 121 appearances for the USMNT. He holds the record for most saves – 16 – in a world cup match (against Belgium in 2014).

901 FC kicks off the season at AutoZone Park this Saturday, March 7th, 6 p.m., against Eastern Conference rival Indy Eleven.


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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Announces Tim Howard as Sporting Director

At the Home Plate Club at AutoZone Park Wednesday afternoon, Tim Howard’s passion was evident as he took to the podium after being announced as Memphis 901 FC’s new sporting director. The former goalkeeper for the United States Men’s National Team had been involved as a part-owner since close to the team’s inception, but his new position will allow him to take a much more hands-on role in the organization.

“Two years ago, the plan was to retire, get in the carpool lane with the kids, and go about my day as Dad,” Howard said. “There was no team here, but when that happened, I reached out to [principal owner] Peter [Freund] because I’m passionate about football. Everything I know in my life and have that is good is because of football, so I never wanted to retire and go too far away from the game. It was important I gave back.”

901 FC sporting director Tim Howard spoke of the team’s desire to compete for a playoff spot this coming season.

As the franchise’s sporting director, Howard will have a direct hand in player recruitment and designing the product that takes to the field every weekend. “Peter talked about excellence and the commitment to that excellence, and I only know one way personally. I believe in sacrifice and hard work, and all the intangibles that were spoken for me. I want to build a team around me and build a team to put on the field that the city of Memphis can be proud of.”

901 FC retained nine players from last year’s squad, including captain Marc Burch and top scorer Brandon Allen. To fill in the remaining spots, Memphis leadership is searching home and abroad, and “speaking to every agent under the sun. We’re going to put together a team that relentlessly pursues that excellence, both in the front office, but also on the field, and we’ve been preaching that to players we’re looking to sign.”

Team president Craig Unger suggested the organization would be hosting a training camp in the next few weeks. Going into the team’s second season, 901 FC is better equipped to handle the rigors of challenging for a playoff run. “That was one of the challenges last year, we had 24 different guys come in that were 24 different personalities,” said Unger. “We were able to keep nine players we brought back this year, we had consistency with our coaching staff, we know what the league is about this year, we know each team and what we’re up against. This year, we can build our team accordingly.”

Having fallen just short of the playoffs last year, Howard said that achieving a top-eight position in the Eastern Conference this coming year is a must. “I don’t want that to be lip service to anyone in this building. That’s something we genuinely feel passionate about. We’ve seen what the best of the best can offer us in the Eastern Conference, and we know we can stand toe-to-toe and give as good as we got … This club is on the up and up. It seems like a bold statement and I don’t mean it to be, but this team is a playoff team next year, simple as that.”

James Roeling, previously senior manager of team operations for Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids, followed Howard to Memphis as assistant sporting director.

901 FC opens its season at AutoZone Park, against Indy Eleven, on March 7th.


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Sports Sports Feature

901 FC Loss to Indy Puts a Crimp in Playoff Hopes

The trip to Indianapolis held so much promise: 901 FC’s recent string of results positioned it to take a crack at playoff qualification down the home stretch. And with the Indy Eleven having lost its last four games, high-flying Memphis was well poised to bag three more points. Alas, one of this season’s Eastern Conference powerhouses managed to regain its mojo and beat Bluff City’s best efforts. After a 3-0 loss on the road, Memphis’ hopes of reaching the postseason seem grim.

Coach Tim Mulqueen put out a strong starting 11, as expected, and the boys more than held their own throughout the 90 minutes. However, Indy showcased a ruthless efficiency that spoke to its experience as a franchise. Memphis conceded opportunities early and dug itself into a 2-0 hole within 22 minutes. What rankled was that rather than concede from sharp attacking play by a superior opponent, 901 FC fell apart on set pieces twice in quick succession.

901FC

901 FC’s attack misfired.

Down two goals on the road is always a tough proposition, and it put the onus on Memphis to make something happen. Indy was able to sit back a little more without leaving its defense open. And the longer Memphis went without a goal, the more it felt inevitable that Indy would wrap it up with a neat little bow.

Sure enough, Memphis conceded a third goal on the break with less than 15 minutes left to play, creating what might seem like an insurmountable gap between 901 FC and the last playoff spot. But the roster that Mulqueen has organized isn’t one to give up without a fight, and even after letting in two early goals, the team continued to grit its way through a tough matchup.

Earlier in the season, 901 FC relied on Elliot Collier’s magic to make things happen on the field, but Memphis’ possession game has markedly improved since Mulqueen finished constructing his new-look squad. Even when Indy pressed high, the midfield circulated the ball quickly. Cam Lindley and Dan Metzger buzzed about providing outlets for teammates and looking for options to move the ball forward.

On the attacking front, Marcus Epps came to the fore, constantly driving forward with purpose and precision to create opportunities for himself and others. Two of his strikes accounted for Memphis’ three shots on target, and he was unlucky not to find the back of the net on this occasion. Brandon Allen, on the other hand, was effectively marshalled by the opposition defense. Indy held him to just one touch inside the box in 90 minutes, essentially neutralizing his goal-scoring threat.

Losing 3-0 doesn’t look good, but it doesn’t mean Memphis was comprehensively outclassed. Indy scored on three of its four shots on target, a usually unrealistic conversion rate. This weekend’s opponent likely won’t pose such a threat. The visiting Charlotte Independence sits two spots below 12th-placed Memphis in the Eastern Conference standings (although it has won its last two games). 901 FC is a different prospect since Charlotte won the reverse fixture 1-0 back in July, so the game should be manageable at AutoZone Park. Mulqueen has to mark this game as three points, which would bring Memphis back within touching distance of a playoff spot.

Birmingham Legion narrowly holds the final qualification place, in 10th, but is tied on 40 points with 11th-placed Charleston Battery. Memphis sits six points behind at 34, but the Legion’s next game is away at Hartford Athletic, the worst team in the United Soccer League this season. Meanwhile, the Battery hosts the iffy Loudoun United. Both playoff contenders can reasonably expect to win their matchups, which means Memphis would need to win six points in its final two contests while both of its rivals lose their remaining games. It’s unlikely, but 901 FC didn’t come this far just to give up. The desire and tenacity on display in recent weeks shows how much the team cares, so there’s nothing for fans to do but buckle up and enjoy the ride.

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Sports Sports Feature

Five Star Memphis Thrashes Bethlehem

CREDIT: Memphis 901 FC

You know what 901 FC looks like? A playoff team.

The visiting Bethlehem Steel on Saturday were only one point behind Memphis in the Eastern Conference standings before the contest, so the potential for a tough match was there. But Coach Tim Mulqueen and his squad revved up the steamroller and flattened any notion of a competitive contest in the first quarter-hour. With a 5-0 drubbing where every player excelled, 901 FC climbed ever closer to that elusive last playoff qualification spot.

Memphis 901 FC

Elliot Collier set the pace early with Memphis’ opening goal in the seventh minute.

It looks like Mulqueen’s roster-tinkering over the course of the season has finally constructed a squad with the right tools for his game-plan. We’ve seen how the attack has clicked into gear over the past few games, but there was always a chance the team’s good run of form could come to an end after the Pittsburgh Riverhounds snapped the team’s four-game winning streak last week. But just as he’s done many times before, Elliot Collier stepped up to assuage any nerves with less than seven minutes on the clock when he slotted his shot underneath the despairing Bethlehem goalkeeper.

From there, it was oneway traffic. The midfield looked devastating when picking up the ball between the lines; Lindley and Adam Najem surged forward as often as they could, looking to play positive, forward passes, and the 901 FC attack never let up for a second, raining in shots to seize complete control of proceedings.

The Bethlehem defense had no answer for the home team’s gusto. Press high up the pitch? No problem, defender Liam Doyle can just play an inch-perfect long ball to a streaking Marcus Epps for the second goal. Squeeze the midfield? Lindley and Najem didn’t even look bothered as they sucked in multiple defenders before dispatching an assist to Brandon Allen (the forward’s tally for Memphis rose to eight) for goals three and four.

The icing on the cake came with Doyle’s tap-in after a corner-kick routine. If it hadn’t been apparent by then, that made it game, set, and match. Allen could have even grabbed a hat-trick when Lagos Kunga crossed to the wide open striker, but it wasn’t to be. The game kind of petered out after that, but when you’re five goals to the good, it’s fine to ease up a little.

This was truly an impressive display from the whole squad. Beyond the excellent midfielders and attackers (who mustered 21 shots), goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell and the Memphis defense restricted Bethlehem to zero (!) shots on target for 90 minutes. That puts Caldwell up to six clean sheets for the season.

Memphis 901 FC

A complete team performance leaves Memphis well-poised heading into its final four games.

Memphis had already looked like a well-oiled machine over the last month, but an utter thrashing is the perfect tonic after what could have been a morale-sapping narrow defeat to Pittsburgh. And with only four games left in the season, it’s exactly what Memphis needed. The team remains in 12th place, five points out of the last playoff spot; each match from here on out is a must-win contest. Next up is fifth-placed Indy Eleven on Saturday, which on paper seems like the toughest opponent left on the schedule. However, the Indianapolis side has lost its last three games, making it the perfect time for Bluff City to strike.

And who’s to say Memphis can’t pull off the win? Mulqueen has his team’s foot pressed down firmly on the accelerator, with the entire attack in a goal-scoring mood and the rest of the squad on the same page heading into crunch time. It will be a fight to snag that number ten spot in the Eastern Conference, but 901 FC has more than shown lately it’s up for the challenge.


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From My Seat Sports

Forza Calcio!

I was in a European soccer riot when I was eight years old.

Okay, this warrants an explanation. My family spent a memorable academic year (1976-77) in Torino, Italy, as my dad pursued his Ph.D. in economics. (He was studying people and policies in the country under Cavour, Italy’s first prime minister.) I was in 2nd grade at the time and fell in love with the city’s renowned soccer club, Juventus. I Bianconeri (“the Black and Whites”) were to Italian calcio what the New York Yankees are to American baseball. No Italian club has won more Serie A championships (35), and no Italian club sports as distinctive colors as the vertical stripes — yes, black and white — on Juve’s home kits. Before I came to cheer the likes of Lou Brock and Ted Simmons of the St. Louis Cardinals, I had posters of Roberto Bettega and Dino Zoff on my bedroom wall.

In the spring of ’77, Juventus beat Spain’s Athletic Bilbao to win the UEFA Cup for the first time. Now known as the UEFA Europa League, this is a competition between qualifying clubs across Europe. It’s not the Champions League and nowhere near the World Cup, but four decades ago, let me tell you, it was a big deal, a title that made Bettega, Zoff, and friends kings of the pitch in Europe.

When Juventus clinched the championship in Spain, the streets of Torino — well before nightfall — went wild in celebration, chants of Forza Juve! filling the increasingly smoky air. The air was smoky, as my blurred memory recalls, because of small fires, not all of them celebratory. Torino, you see, has not one, but two major soccer franchises. If Juventus is the Yankees to northwest Italy, Torino F.C. is the Mets. And fans of Torino that May evening back in 1977 were not thrilled about the UEFA Cup coming to town. Not only were trash cans set aflame, there were Juventus flags burning on the sidewalk, some ripped from the hands of Juve fans riding along in trolley cars. It was scary for a boy of my age. And it was exciting. These were “Met” fans attacking a “Yankee” parade . . . but fueled purely by Italian blood. The culture’s reputation for passion — passione — is well-earned.

Images of that street riot have danced in my head of late for two reasons. The first: My 16-year-old daughter is in Europe this week, competing and touring with her own soccer club (Memphis FC). She’ll be exploring Brussels for much of the trip, but crossing into France for a couple of World Cup games, a live look at the greatest female soccer players on the planet. There won’t be any rioting (fingers crossed), and I doubt she’ll witness a rivalry along the lines of Juventus-Torino. But Elena will be immersed in a form of international sports culture only soccer — calcio! — can deliver.
Courtesy Memphis 901 FC

The Bluff City Mafia

My Juventus memories are also triggered by this town’s very own soccer club, 901 FC. Memphis is struggling in its first season in the USL Championship, having won but two of 14 matches (with five draws). But don’t tell the Bluff City Mafia, the band of fans who arrive at AutoZone Park on game night with multi-colored (and quite safe) smoke bombs and enough drums to wake Kong himself. Soccer culture has arrived in the Bluff City and it’s a culture that connects us globally in ways that the NBA hopes to someday. (When there’s a riot between a city’s rival basketball clubs in, say, Munich, let me know.) A few home wins will help 901 FC among casual fans. But the club’s mere existence has transformed Memphis sports culture, and for that I’m grateful.

My daughter is likely playing soccer in Europe as you read this column. And I still have Roberto Bettega on my wall at home. It is indeed a soccer world we call home. Glad we Memphians now have a permanent address.