Brad Guzan Bio Send To Friend  

No doubt, Brad Guzan is one of the best backup keepers in the world. He's Tim Howard's No. 2 with the U.S. and backs up Brad Friedel at Aston Villa. Still, Guzan can get the job done.

He posted shutouts in World Cup qualifying wins over Barbados and Guatemala in 2008. Guzan played two years for the University of South Carolina (2003-04). He started all 18 matches as a freshman, putting up a 0.96 goals-against average and eight shutouts. Guzan left South Carolina after two years and signed a Generation adidas contract with the MLS. Chivas USA picked him second overall in the 2005 SuperDraft, making the then-20-year-old the highest-picked keeper in MLS draft history.

As a rookie in '05, Guzan played in 24 games for Chivas, starting 23. He put up a 1.99 goals-against average. Guzan lowered his GAA to 1.43 in '06 and dropped it even lower the following season, posting 13 shutouts and a 0.93 GAA in 2007. Those numbers earned Guzan the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award. His 13 shutouts were the second most in MLS history.

Aston Villa swooped in and grabbed Guzan on July 11, 2008, agreeing to a transfer fee of $1.2 million with MLS. Guzan made his debut with the Villans in September of '08 in a League Cup match against Queens Park Rangers and shut out Slavia Prague 1-0 on Nov. 6, 2008, in his first European appearance -- a UEFA Cup game. He played in every game Villa won during the Peace Cup in the summer of 2009. Guzan helped put away Juventus, Atlante and Porto at the Peace Cup.

Guzan made his first appearance for the U.S. national team in goal on Feb. 19, 2006, in a 4-0 win over Guatemala. That made Guzan the youngest keeper to start in goal on his national team debut since Friedel 14 years earlier.

Guzan suited up for a career-high seven games for the U.S. in 2008. Yes, Howard is the guy, but if something unexpected happens to him during the World Cup, Bradley will roll out Guzan without any apprehension.

Strengths: Relentless keeper who never backs down.

Weaknesses: Not enough playing time at club level.

Career high: On Oct. 27, 2009, Guzan saved four penalties in one match for Villa -- one in normal time and three more in a penalty shootout -- during a win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the last 16 of the Carling Cup.

Career low: Being stuck behind the great Howard is tough. But there is no shame in that.

Style: High energy, hardworking.

Quotes: "You miss playing against your friends and buddies [in the MLS]. You develop friends during your time in the league, and you miss that. At the end of the day, we all know it is a business and you have to move forward with your career. When that opportunity comes up, you jump at it. I do miss the guys, but at the same time, I don't regret making the move one bit. It was the right decision for me." -- Guzan, Sept. 2009

Trivia: A native of Homer Glen, Ill., Guzan threw out the first pitch at a White Sox game in 2008.

Soccernet says: He's in, but likely won't see any time during the World Cup if Howard is healthy. Still, it's reassuring to know that the U.S. has a solid backup.