McBride Signs With Fulham 20/01/04
Columbus Crew President and General Manager Jim Smith announced today that Brian McBride has signed a multi-year deal with Fulham of the English Premier League.
The 31-year-old McBride was under contract with The Crew and Major League Soccer through the 2005 season but Fulham purchased McBride> '> s contract with an undisclosed transfer fee to MLS.
"This has been a difficult two weeks, and it has been a very tough decision from the get-go," said McBride. "I didn't think an opportunity like this would be available and when it was, my family and I wanted to hear what the opportunity was. Over the past four years, there has been a lot of talk of me leaving. It has been a long, tiresome process, with many sleepless nights, but we felt it was the right opportunity for us and it was time to move forward. As hard as it is to leave, we felt it was the right thing to do. It is an exciting new opportunity for my family and I."
McBride spent his entire eight-year MLS career in Columbus after being the first pick in the inaugural MLS draft in 1996. The seven-time MLS All-Star appeared in 161 regular season games for The Crew, 158 starts, as well as 22 playoff starts.
"My family and I make the decisions together," said McBride. "People should know how supportive my wife (Dina) has been to me. That doesn't make the decision any easier to leave a city that we love and have made our home. The past eight years have been a period where I have grown as a person and as a soccer player. It has been a joy to be a part of The Crew organization and the city of Columbus. At The Crew, it has always a family feeling. I am going to miss Columbus."
"I would like to thank Brian for eight great years with the organization," said Smith. "We want to wish him the best at Fulham and I am sure he will represent Fulham with the same class and professionalism that he did for eight years in Columbus."
The Arlington Heights, Ill., native leaves as the club's all-time leading scorer with 169 points on 62 goals and 45 assists. He also tallied 21 points in the playoffs with nine goals and three assists.
"The Crew is turning to another chapter in its history," said Crew Head Coach Greg Andrulis. "We wish Brian nothing but the best as he moves on to play in one of the best league> 's in the world. I've never measured Brian by the points he scored on the field. He's been invaluable in the lockerroom, in the community and to the entire Columbus Crew oraganization."
The former Saint Louis University star has also excelled on the world stage. He has made 67 appearances for the U.S. National Team, including participating in two World Cups. He ranks fourth all-time on the U.S. goal-scoring list (20) and points list (47). He is the only player in U.S. history to score in two World Cups (1998 & 2002). He was instrumental in the U.S.'s run to the quarterfinals in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, where he scored the game-winning goals against Portugal and Mexico.
"The things Greg (Andrulis) and Jim (Smith) have done in the offseason are really going to help the team," said McBride. "The trades they have made in bringing in Simon Elliott, Robin Fraser and Manny Lagos are going to make this team much better. The roster has the makings of a championship caliber team."
McBride has twice previously played in England, both on loan. He spent the 2000-01 offseason with Preston North End of the English First Division and the 2002-03 offseason with Everton of the Premier League. While at Everton, McBride scored four goals and had two assists in just eight appearances.
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