Brian McBride

Lore & Background

McBride played youth soccer for the Arlington Aces and varsity soccer at Buffalo Grove High School, leading the Bison to the Illinois state championship in 1988. He scored 80 goals in four years of high school. He had a distinguished college career at Saint Louis University, setting career records for goals (72), assists (40) and total points (184). He briefly played for the minor league Milwaukee Rampage, then moved to VfL Wolfsburg in Germany in 1994. He returned to the U.S. in 1996 as the first overall pick of the MLS Inaugural Draft and played eight years with Columbus Crew, scoring 62 goals and 45 assists in 161 league games. He had loan spells at Preston North End (2000) and Everton (2002) before joining Fulham in January 2004. At Fulham, he became a fan favorite and team captain, winning Player of the Season twice. He returned to MLS in 2008 to play for Chicago Fire, his hometown club, and retired following the 2010 MLS season.

In Their Own Story

The roar of the Rose Bowl faded into a hush as Brian McBride rose above the defensive wall. The ball hung in the air, a perfect cross from Beckham. With a thunderous leap that defied gravity, McBride met the sphere with his forehead, sending it crashing past the goalkeeper. In that suspended moment, the stadium erupted, not just for the goal, but for the sheer force of will that had defined an era.

Reader's Guide

McBride was known for his versatility in amateur career, playing as a forward, defender, and even goalkeeper in high school. He decided to become a striker at the professional level. He scored a historic goal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Portugal, linking up with former Milwaukee Rampage teammate Tony Sanneh. At Fulham, he was top scorer for the 2006–07 Premier League campaign with twelve goals. He dislocated his kneecap in August 2007 but returned to action in early 2008. After leaving Fulham, the club renamed a sports bar at Craven Cottage 'McBride's' in his honor. He was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005 and became the inaugural member of Columbus Crew's Circle of Honor in 2011.

Did You Know?

• McBride broke his nose in a high school playoff game but returned to score the game-winning goal.
• He played goalkeeper in a regional final during his senior season, stopping four of eight penalty kicks and scoring the winning goal on a counterattack.
• He is one of 22 college players to be part of the 40-40 club, having both 40 goals and 40 assists in college.
• McBride's contract with Nike included a condition that his high school's boys' varsity soccer team receive new uniforms every two years.
• He had a rib removed to surgically remove a blood clot from his arm during his loan spell at Preston North End.