On This Day in 2016, It Was the End of an Era at Goodison Park for the Goalkeeper as He Played His Final Premier League Match
The spring of 2016 brought a bittersweet mixture of anticipation and farewell to Goodison Park. For Tim Howard, Everton's American goalkeeper, it represented both an ending and a new beginning. After announcing his decision to return to Major League Soccer with Colorado Rapids, the 37-year-old had committed to seeing out the remainder of a tumultuous season with the Toffees before embarking on his transatlantic journey. His final campaign, however, had proven challenging, losing his starting position to Joel Robles amid criticism from sections of the Everton faithful who had once universally adored him.
The New Jersey native's journey with the Blues had begun a decade earlier, arriving on loan from Manchester United in the summer of 2006 before making the move permanent in February 2007 for a fee of around £3 million. His ascent had been steady and impressive, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most consistent goalkeepers during his 10-year tenure on Merseyside. With 132 clean sheets in 399 appearances, Howard had surpassed Brad Friedel as the American with the most shutouts in Premier League history. This remarkable achievement underscored his longevity and reliability between the posts.
As May 2016 approached, Everton's season had derailed spectacularly. With manager Roberto Martinez dismissed following a disastrous run of one win in ten Premier League games, club legend David Unsworth stepped in as caretaker for the final fixture. The timing seemed poetic—a chance for the departing American to bid farewell to the Goodison faithful under the guidance of a man who embodied the club's values, rather than the manager whose tactical approach had increasingly exposed Howard's declining mobility.
The atmosphere at Goodison Park was electric on that May 15 afternoon for the visit of already-relegated Norwich City. A sense of closure permeated the stands—not just for Howard's decade of service, but for a season that had fallen drastically short of expectations. Before kickoff, Howard posted a moving farewell message to supporters on social media: "I remember the promise that David Moyes made to me 10 years ago: 'Once you walk through those doors, you'll fall in love.' Today, I will walk through those doors one more time, and then I will depart. I will depart with love in my heart for the greatest of football clubs, the People's club, Everton FC."
With Unsworth honoring Martinez's promise to give Howard a final start, the American took his place between the posts for the 414th time wearing Everton blue. The interim manager's selection reflected a blend of sentiment and future planning—Howard's farewell juxtaposed with full debuts for teenage talents Tom Davies and Kieran Dowell. At the same time, 19-year-old Jonjoe Kenny would later emerge from the bench for his senior bow.
Just nineteen minutes into the match, James McCarthy provided a moment of quality to break the deadlock. Following an enterprising run from Dowell, the Irish international swept home a sublime 20-yard finish past John Ruddy to give the home side the lead. The goal showcased everything Unsworth had asked for—youthful exuberance combined with experienced finishing from a midfielder playing a more advanced role than under Martinez's stewardship.
On the stroke of halftime, Everton doubled their advantage when Leighton Baines converted from the penalty spot after Romelu Lukaku was adjudged to have been fouled by Robbie Brady. The Goodison crowd erupted with ironic cheers as Baines stepped forward to take the spot-kick—a pointed reference to an incident earlier in the season when Martinez had publicly stripped the left-back of penalty-taking duties following a miss. It was a small but significant moment of restoration as the club looked toward a new chapter.
The second half brought further reward as Kevin Mirallas added a third goal shortly after the restart. The move epitomized the promise of Everton's academy—Davies regaining possession with tenacious tackling in midfield before Dowell released Kenny down the right flank. When the young full-back's cross deflected across the goal, Mirallas was positioned perfectly at the far post to tap home and complete the scoring.
Throughout the contest, Howard was commanding in his penalty area, organizing his defense with the vocal authority that had become his trademark. Though rarely tested by a toothless Norwich attack, he claimed crosses with assurance and distributed efficiently, determined to preserve a clean sheet in his final appearance. The final whistle on Everton's 3-0 victory marked Howard's 133rd shutout of his Premier League career and provided the perfect conclusion to his Goodison story.
What followed was a moment of pure emotion. Howard, fighting back tears, was given a guard of honor by his teammates as he made his way toward the Gwladys Street End—Everton's spiritual heart. The American goalkeeper received a thunderous ovation as "USA, USA" chants echoed around the grand old stadium. Addressing the crowd afterward, Howard's voice cracked with emotion: "I expected nothing less. You guys have given me the privilege and honor to play for this club since 2006. It's become my life. I'm leaving tomorrow, but this will always be my home."
Players paid their private tributes to their departing teammate in the dressing room. Unsworth later revealed: "It was a fitting ovation for Tim on the pitch. The players have done the same in the dressing room as well, which was a lovely touch." For Howard, who had weathered criticism during his final season, this validation from colleagues and supporters provided a poignant bookend to his Everton career.
As Howard prepared to return to America, his immediate future held one more significant challenge before joining the Colorado Rapids on July 4th. Selected for Jurgen Klinsmann's preliminary Copa America Centenario squad, Howard faced a battle with Brad Guzan for the starting goalkeeper position—a contest complicated by his year-long sabbatical from international duty following the 2014 World Cup.
"Anytime you take a year out, you open doors for other people, but I knew that going into the decision," Howard acknowledged at the U.S. national team training camp in Miami. "That was all part of that decision-making process. When I tell people it wasn't easy, that's one of the reasons." Despite his stellar career credentials, including that record-setting 15-save performance against Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16, Howard would ultimately serve as backup to Guzan in the tournament.
For the Colorado Rapids, Howard represented a marquee signing commanding a reported $2.5 million annual salary, among the highest for a goalkeeper in MLS history. His arrival would reunite him with Pablo Mastroeni, the Rapids coach who had been Howard's teammate on the U.S. national team from 2002-09. "He was just a warrior, a guy who I loved playing with," Howard said of Mastroeni. "You knew he was going to bring the fire, protect his teammates. He brings that to his coaching. I am really excited to get started."
After 13 years in English football, split between Manchester United and Everton, Tim Howard had etched his name into Premier League history. His journey from a young goalkeeper with Tourette's syndrome to one of America's most successful footballing exports represented personal triumph and a path-breaking career that helped legitimize American players in Europe's elite leagues.
"I am going home to America," Howard wrote in his farewell message. "But after a decade in Blue, THIS IS MY HOME. I love all of you, and am so grateful for what the club and everybody affiliated with it has given me. EVERTON, you have become a part of my soul. You'll forever be in my heart." For the Goodison faithful who had witnessed his decade of service, the sentiment was undoubtedly mutual.
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