Tim Howard walked off the practice field at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Thursday, noted the sunshine that was filling up the March sky, and said: “It’s good to be back out with the boys.”

Memphis 901 FC: Meet the team

This particular boy turns 41 on Friday, March 6.

On Saturday, he will start in goal for Memphis 901 FC’s season opener against the Indy Eleven at AutoZone Park. But he is also sporting director and has an ownership stake in the team.

“It’s my policy never to release the lineup before a match,” said head coach Tim Mulqueen, “but it would take a lot not to start him.”

Like a fit of insanity.

While it seems very probable that Howard has plenty of game left to be an effective keeper in the United Soccer League, putting him in uniform is a victory on multiple levels.

The team drew well last season, its first in Memphis, despite not winning as much as everyone would have liked. This move injects fuel into a soccer fire that burned brightly and created its own atmosphere with everyone from Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant to former Memphis Tigers football coach Mike Norvell engaging in the prematch guitar smash.

Howard was a mainstay on the U.S. National team and was the starting goalkeeper in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He played for Manchester United and Everton in the English Premiership and finished up with Colorado in Major League Soccer in 2019.

But his retirement lasted but a few weeks as Howard and fellow team owners Peter Freund and Craig Unger, well, kicked around the idea of an on-field role for Howard that, let’s be honest, won’t hurt at the box office.

On Thursday, Howard said his focus is simple: “Can I be a part of this group, drive it forward, and win games, and help create culture, and push toward the playoffs?”

Of course, he also understands it won’t hurt his other roles as he evaluates players individually and collectively from ground level.

Memphis 901 FC concludes preseason with win over U of M

“Selfishly, as a sporting director, as I try to build this team and culture, there’s only certain things I can do from the inside,” he said. “I don’t think you can just sit up in the stands in a suit and have the effect that I want to have as a player and a leader.

“One of my greatest attributes in the past has been being a great teammate. I do for others, I put guys first, I demand excellence of myself, and I demand the best out of every other person around me.

“And at times, that will piss people off,” Howard said. “But ultimately in this sport, winning makes everyone feel good and everyone will hug and be happy when we win.”

Said Mulqueen: “I knew he was coming back for the right reasons, which was to help us win futbol matches. He keeps himself in tremendous shape. He’s going to be like one of those retired guys who’s playing pick-up basketball at the YMCA arguing about calls.”

Pair of televised games highlights Memphis 901 FC schedule

Memphis 901 FC has two other goalkeepers on the roster. And given the presence of Howard, that’s what they will be: the others.

But they also now get their own private goalkeeping clinic.

“Jimmy Hague and Jim Barkei, they have a front-row seat to the greatest American goalkeeper ever,” Mulqueen said. “So, if they don’t take advantage and learn from him, there’s a problem. But they are.

“And Tim’s very gracious with his information. In the goalkeeping community there’s no secrecy. We all know, who have played between the pipes, that’s a lonely position. So, we all look out for each other.”