By Justin Shaffer - SEATTLE, WA (Oct 14, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Since the 1990 rebirth of the United States National Team, the squad has consistently been blessed with World Cup caliber goalkeepers. On Saturday, the Seattle Sounders final regular season home game (10pm ET - Fox Soccer) is the beginning of the end for Kasey Keller’s decorated career as a professional soccer player. The man who leads all US goalkeepers in caps, wins, and shutouts has confirmed that he’s retiring after the Sounders’ season ends in November.
Keller has been a large part of that National Team resurgence from the very beginning, featuring for the 1989 Under-20 World Cup team and backing up Tony Meola in the 1990 World Cup. He won the Silver Ball at that 1989 U-20 World Cup with the team finishing fourth overall, started all three games at the 1996 Olympics, featured for the 1998 and 2006 World Cup teams, and backed up Brad Friedel at the 2002 World Cup.
Take a look back at some of the greatest victories in the history of the National Team, and it was normally Keller in goal.
In the 1995 Copa America, Keller got the start and the shutout when the US upset Argentina 3-0 to win their group. With Keller giving way to Friedel, the US then beat Mexico in the quarterfinals before losing to Brazil in the semifinals and losing to Columbia in the Third Place game.
In 2005 the US beat Mexico 2-0 in World Cup qualifying with Keller in the goal. The third edition of Dos a Cero was vengeance for a Mexican 2-1 home victory earlier in the qualifying cycle.
On February 10th, 1998 Keller had one of the iconic games for a goalkeeper wearing the Stars and Stripes. In a 1-0 Gold Cup victory against Brazil, Keller endured a barrage from the Brazilians, saving 10 shots on the way to the clean sheet victory and prompting Brazilian great Romario to proclaim afterwards that it “was the greatest performance I have ever seen by a goalkeeper.”
At the club level, Kasey Keller’s spent a decade playing topflight soccer in some of the best leagues in the world. In 1992, he joined Milwall in England's First Division (now the Championship). When Milwall was relegated to the Second Division following the 1995-96 season, Keller moved to Leicester City. That team won promotion to the Premier League and the 1997 League Cup.
Keller followed his success in England by signing with Rayo Vallecano of Spain’s La Liga. After two years in La Liga, he returned to the Premier League where he won the starting job at Spurs. Continuing his run through the European big leagues, Keller spent two season as the captain of Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga before once again returning to the Premier League - this time with Fulham. Keller was part of Fulham's American contingent alongside Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, and Brian McBride.
With offers on the table to keep playing in Europe, Keller opted to return home and sign with Seattle for their first MLS season. His career with Seattle has seen him captain the expansion team to three straight MLS playoff appearances, the CONCACAF Champions League (with a berth to this year’s quarterfinals already clinched), and winning three straight US Open Cup titles.
In his return to the States, Keller has been the perfect leader for an expansion team with his vast experience overseas and all-out effort every week. There’s never been a concern about Keller coming to the MLS to take it easy. After all, he plays in the part of the country that comes closest to what he was used to in Europe.
Shortly before the Portland Timbers started their first season in MLS, Keller attended a Portland Trailblazers game where he was booed by the crowd when shown on the Rose Garden’s big screen. This response was for a man who became a legend in Portland soccer history for his All-American performances at Portland State University in the 1980’s and his brilliant National Team career. Keller ate it up and pointed out the similarities with the passion of European soccer fans when later speaking with the media.
After his final regular season home game this weekend, Keller has the opportunity to lead the Sounders against Monterrey where a victory or tie can clinch the group for Seattle (a year after ending group play with a single point). The Sounders have already clinched a spot in the MLS playoffs, where the Sounders captain will look to wrap up his career by bringing the MLS Cup to Seattle.
In retirement, Keller is hoping to continue giving back to soccer. His contract has stipulations allowing him to join the Sounders in a undetermined capacity when he’s finished playing. Keller has already told an ESPN audience that he’d like to one day be president of the US Soccer Federation or the MLS commissioner.
What he's already done as a player is shine a bright light on American soccer throughout the world with his play between the posts for both club and country. The Sounders have announced that they’ve sold over 60,000 tickets for his final regular season home game, a fitting celebration for one of the greatest players to ever wear the shirt for club and country.
Justin Shaffer joins USSoccerPlayers after regularly contributing to the site's comments section. Look for his byline every other week.
