Keller makes All-Star debut
Sounders star in goal for MLS team in match against Everton
SANDY, Utah – Nearing the end of one of the most successful soccer careers an American has had, Kasey Keller is a rookie again.
The 39-year-old goalkeeper is making his All-Star debut tonight when a Major League Soccer squad hosts Everton, a club Keller knows well from his years playing in England’s Premier League.
“This is new to me, as well. This is my first All-Star game so I don’t really quite know how it all works out,” Keller said.
Not much else is new for Keller at this stage in his career. The longtime starter in goal for the U.S. national team has had tours with clubs in the top European leagues – including the Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and the Bundesliga of Germany – before joining MLS this season with the Seattle Sounders.
Keller has six shutouts for the expansion Sounders and was among the first 11 players voted to the MLS team, 5-0 against international opponents under the unusual All-Star format. The league scrapped its East vs. West game and started inviting pro teams from other countries.
Everton, runner-up in England’s FA Cup, is winding up a North American tour as it prepares for the season opener Aug. 15 at home against Arsenal.
While the Toffees have history that dates to 1878, the MLS has been around for only 13 years and is still trying to build a reputation.
“It’s an important game for them. They’re in the preseason and want to have a competitive game,” Keller said of Everton. “There’s a little bit of a pride factor here for the (MLS) guys and I think that will show.”
At the other end of the field from Keller will be Everton’s Tim Howard, Keller’s successor on the U.S. team. Howard started his career in the MLS with the MetroStars – now the New York Red Bulls – before getting to play in Europe.
Keller had already made that move and sent Howard off with some simple advice.
“He knew it was a big jump for me,” Howard recalled. “But he just said the easiest thing about being a goalkeeper is you just have to save the ball. It doesn’t matter what league you play in, what level. You just have to make the saves. It was a good piece of advice.”
It’s worked well for Keller, who had 47 shutouts with the national team and is second in the MLS with a goals-against average of 0.80. Keller practiced with the MLS team for the first time Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium, home of Real Salt Lake and the site of tonight’s game.