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 high school, including 33 as a senior while playing as a defender. In the regional final of his senior season, he played goalkeeper, stopping four of eight penalty kicks and scoring the winning goal on a counterattack in extra time. He was named an All-American by Parade Magazine. He later signed a contract with Nike with the condition that the boys' varsity soccer team receive new uniforms every two years. At Saint Louis University, he set career records for goals (72), assists (40), and total points (184), and was a 1992 second-team and 1993 first-team All-American. He is one of 22 college players in the 40-40 club. He briefly played for the minor league Milwaukee Rampage, scoring 17 goals and 18 assists in 18 games. In 1994, he moved to VfL Wolfsburg in the German Second Division, scoring two goals including one in a 2–1 victory over Bayern Munich's reserve team in the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals. He returned to the U.S. in 1996 as the first overall pick of the MLS Inaugural Draft, playing eight years with Columbus Crew and scoring 62 goals and 45 assists in 161 league games. He had loan spells at Preston North End (2000) and Everton (2002). At Preston, he had a blood clot surgically removed from his arm, which consisted of having a rib removed. At Fulham, he was top scorer for the 2006–07 season with twelve goals, became captain in August 2007, and won Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He returned to MLS with Chicago Fire in 2008 and retired after the 2010 season.

Reader's Guide

McBride is a forward known for his aerial ability and work rate. He was a fan favorite at Fulham, where he served as captain and had a bar renamed in his honor. He scored a historic goal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Portugal, linking up with former Milwaukee Rampage teammate Tony Sanneh.

Did You Know?

• McBride broke his nose in a high school playoff game but returned to score the game-winning goal.
• McBride scored his first goal for Fulham after returning from a dislocated kneecap against Everton in a 1–0 victory.