Former U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper Brad Friedel launched his professional career before MLS was established in the early 1990s, meaning the long-serving Premier League shot-stopper began his club career overseas after graduating from UCLA.
The current generation of USMNT goalkeepers, led by NYCFC's Matt Freese at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, are all based in MLS. Notably, New York Red Bulls starter Ethan Horvath revealed to Mirror US Sports in March that he departed Europe partly to get on the national team's radar, as coach Mauricio Pochettino — who Friedel had hoped would remain before news broke of Pochettino signing an extension — showed a tendency to call up domestically based goalkeepers.
For Friedel, this approach is misguided. In an extensive interview with Mirror US Sports, the longtime Blackburn Rovers No. 1 urged more American goalkeepers to make the move to Europe, pointed to mistakes made by previous ones (Gaga Slonina, take note), and identified who he believes could be between the posts for the USMNT at the 2030 World Cup.
On the latest episode of the All Out Soccer podcast, hosts Jeremy Goldstein and Joseph McBride sat down with Friedel to discuss U.S. goalkeeping and Mauricio Pochettino.
"On a selfish note, I would really like to see more goalkeepers go over to Europe and get real minutes with the team," Friedel told the Mirror US, on behalf of Cafe Casino.
Freese committed a catastrophic mistake in the USMNT's 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16, botching a clearance outside his area before Hans Vanaken lobbed him for Belgium's third goal.
"It doesn't really matter if it's in the top division in the league or second division in one of the leagues that you're playing in, that pressure, because as Matt Freese will have seen now, which will be great for his development," Friedel continued. "You know, going to his first game, he got booed, which is something that normally doesn't happen in America.
"I'd like to see four or five of them playing and starting with European clubs, and then have a real, real competition on their hands."
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Remarkably, 22-year-old American goalkeeper Gaga Slonina remains under contract at Chelsea, having transferred to the London club from Chicago in 2022 for a staggering $10 million fee. He's suffered through a succession of disappointing loan spells since and sits far removed from the Blues' starting lineup.
"When Slonina made his move to Chelsea, you know he was probably number five in line," Friedel explained. "So you really have to question the motive of going over there."
"What was the motive? Was it just money, or you know what, what was the motive? Because you look at his trajectory, it has gone down in its development, and the others that are playing have gone up."
When highlighting the next generation of USMNT goalkeepers, Friedel identified the key challenge awaiting them. "The next phase of their development is the pressure," he said.
"I'd like to see [Nashville's Patrick] Schulte go over. I think he has real. I think he has real talent. I think that's the next step for him. [New England's] Chris Brady has an incredible amount of talent. I think he needs to go over and get that."
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
