http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/brad-calls-time-on-illustrious-playing-career-140515/ The Club can announce that goalkeeping legend Brad Friedel will retire from the game at the end of the season. Having originally arrived in England more than 17 years ago, Brad is returning home to America to become an analyst, pundit and co-commentator for US channel Fox Sports and will also be our Club Ambassador in the United States. His Club role will include supporting our Global Coaching programme and engaging with our Super Clubs in Tallahassee and East Bay and 40 Supporters Clubs across North America. "I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved in my career," said Brad. "When I first started the journey I never imagined it would be this long, playing 23 seasons in total and representing some incredible clubs. "One thing I will miss is that day-to-day interaction with the staff and players. There really is nothing like it but my 44th birthday is here so I think it is a good time to call it a day. I’ve got some wonderful opportunities in front of me working for Fox TV and I’m completing my pro licence. "I’ve also signed on as a Club Ambassador for Spurs focusing on the USA. I’ve got a great relationship with the staff and Board, so I’ll certainly do my bit to help the club go further. "I’ve had a tremendous time here and met a lot of great people along the way. This is a wonderful football club and I feel honoured to have been a part of it for four years. "The manager is great, while there is incredible talent in the changing room, both young and old and with time I see great things ahead." Holder of the record for consecutive starts in the Premier League - an incredible 310 - Brad joined us from Aston Villa in the summer of 2011. Brad was ever-present in the Premier League in his first season here - 2011-12. His incredible run of Premier League starts reached the 300 mark at QPR in April, 2012, and he was presented with a special Barclays Merit Award in recognition. He took his tally to 304 matches by the end of the season, when he achieved another record - becoming the club's oldest player at 40 years, 350 days, passing the mark set by Jimmy Cantrell that had stood for 89 years. He eventually reached 310 before Hugo Lloris took over the gloves against Aston Villa in October, 2012. Brad went on to play 20 times in all competitions in 2012-13, including 11 in the Premier League and seven in the Europa League. In 2013-14, Brad's appearance against Newcastle in the Premier League in November was his 50th for us as he played nine times in all competitions. His last appearance for us came on the huge stage of Benfica's Estadia da Luz in the Round of 16 of the Europa League in March last year, taking his total to 67 appearances for us in all competitions. Capped 82 times by the USA, including three World Cup Finals, Brad began his Premier League career at Liverpool in 1997 before joining Blackburn in 2000. He won the League Cup (against us!) in his time at Ewood Park and made 356 appearances for Rovers, scoring once at Charlton Athletic in February, 2004, before joining Aston Villa in the summer of 2008. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of the Prem's best ever keepers in my opinion, deserved to have a few trophies to his name but he still achieved great recognition including the record for continuous games. Had a fantastic first season with us and has proved a more than valuable asset over his years of service for the club. Glad to see he's still part of Spurs with his ambassadorial role, wish him all the best with his other future endeavours
It'd be nice if we could someone give him a run-out in the final game, but it looks like we'll be in desperate need of the points, unfortunately. He's a decent pundit and did a good job for us, deservedly postponing Lloris' introduction to the side when he first arrived. Hope it all works out well for him and he still makes the odd trip back to WHL.
I'd have thought that the vast majority of that role would involve representing Spurs in America, to be honest. He's lived in the UK for decades now though, so it would be a bit strange if he didn't return sometimes.
Sadly, there are only a few of our current players who actually care a bit about the club. Brad is most certainly one of them and he will be a big loss to our club and to the game. An exceptionally nice man who has given tremendous service to us in his four years. He has been an inspiration to the younger players with his exemplary attitude to being a professional footballer and the hard work and dedication required to make a decent career in the game. If only every footballer could be like Brad Friedel.
Never really appreciated him fully until he joined us. Great guy and great 'keeper, I hope he continues to get punditry work too, I always enjoy hearing his insight into the game. Does anyone know if he's still got the record for the most uninterrupted PL starts? I'm sure I read Howard was catching up to him awhile ago.
Howard got up to 210 and then got an injury. Years on end and he was still nearly three seasons off. It's a really impressive record for Friedel when put into that context, isn't it?
No current streak is in triple digits, so Brad's record will stand for the next 8 years or so at the very least.
His record won't be broken - for many reasons, not least the physical demands of the modern game and its fickleness. It's still remotely achievable for a goalkeeper, but anyone who plays 311 consecutive games has been super fit, not needed or been given a rest, been undroppable for any reason whatsover, played unbelievably well for a very long time without going in where it hurts too often and not been bought by some big money club from overseas. De Gea has played all Utd's games this season, but missed one last season.
Good solid keeper and seems to be a genuine nice guy. Good luck to him and hope he enjoys his well earned retirement.
always sounds like a great lad and his career has been that of a total professional You can only thank him and trust his change in career goes well
