Birth Date: May 18 1971
Birth Place: Lakewood, Ohio
Birth Nation: America
Height: 193cm
Weight: 92Kg
Nationality: USA
Position: Goalkeeper
Brad Friedel was a member of the 1992 USA Olympic soccer squad in Barcelona and was the reserve 'keeper to Tony Meola at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Brad signed with Brondby of the Danish Super League in Spring
1995 after his appeal for a work permit to play for Premiership side Newcastle United was denied. He made 10 appearances with Brondby. Later that year he moved to Galatasaray in September.
In July 1996 Brad signed for Major League Soccer side, Columbus Crew and while with them was named 1997 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Friedel then signed for Liverpool football club in December 1997 for £1 million and took over as first team keeper in the spring of 1998 but under Gerard Houllier was relegated to the bench until becoming first choice keeper again from David James late on in the 1998/99 season.
At the France '98 World Cup he was reserve keeper to Kasey Keller but did play the last game for the U.S. In the 1999/00 season Gerard Houllier signed Dutch goalkeeper. Sander Westerveld and Brad's career with Liverpool was over.
He had only made 25 Premiership appearances for Liverpool in the three years he was there. At that point Brad had work permit problems and it looked like he might have to leave England however former Liverpool player Graeme Souness managed to get Friedel on a free transfer in November 2000 and a work permit was secured.
Brad Friedel became the number one goalkeeper for Blackburn Rovers and signed a new four year contract before leaving to represent the United States in the 2002 World Cup where he was chosen as first choice 'keeper in their first ame 3-2 win over Portugal
Brad Friedel Rumours and Transfers
11 08 2007
Roque Santa Cruz made a dramatic impact on his introduction to Premier League football only to be outshone by Blackburn's exciting young prospect Matt Derbyshire.
The Paraguayan striker, described by Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen as "too bloody good" scored a towering header 2 minutes into his career in England's top flight.
Santa Cruz's introduction came after a worrying incident involving Benni McCarthy, who collapsed after a head injury, however Derbyshire outdid his illustrious fellow substitute with an absolute beauty only 23 seconds after coming on.
The goals ruined a seemingly-good afternoon for Boro, who had taken the lead through Stewart Downing's free kick and had seen promising debuts from Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli.
Until Santa Cruz's introduction Boro had enjoyed the better of the chances however his qualities put the home side on the back-foot.
Boro's new transfers have injected pace into the side and in the 8th minute they broke at pace and nearly made Blackburn pay dearly for conceding possession far up the field.
Aiyegbeni Yakubu surged upfield and played a killer pass to Sanli and the Turkish debutant laid the ball inside to Aliadiere who slid the ball wide under load from a suspiciously offside position.
The linesman did not flag, however his opposite number did when Morten Gamst Pedersen received the ball from David Bentley and set McCarthy up for a tap-in.
The game was refreshingly open throughout and David Wheater used his commanding height at the other end to direct a terrific downward header however Brad Friedel pulled off a good save diving low to his right.
Mark Schwarzer came racing off his line to deny Roberts, who was put through by Dunn, then Stewart Downing had a go from 25 yards however straight into Friedel's arms.
Warnock needlessly conceded a corner from which Downing caused some panic, then the Blackburn defender committed the same blunder a minute later.
This time Chris Riggott flicked on Downing's flag-kick however Wheater would only guide the ball the wrong side of the post.
Boro had taken the lead in the 31st minute after Chris Samba's reckless barge on Yakubu presented Downing with a free kick in presentable range.
The England left winger stepped up and curled the kick low around the Blackburn wall and into the corner, leaving Friedel glaring at his fellow players.
It was well-deserved for the home side who had created by far the best opportunities at that point, leaving Rovers manager Mark Hughes so angry it earned him a touchline ticking off from referee Andre Marriner.
Bentley then tried an audacious chip from out on the right of the Boro penalty area and though Schwarzer was back-pedalling vehemently the ball dropped onto the roof of the net.
Immediately after the break, Julio Arca felled Dunn and Pedersen had taken the free kick from 30-yards out only to drive it into the wall.
Then came the incident with McCarthy, who had picked up a knock on the head in a challenge with Riggott, and collapsed as he was speaking to Blackburn's physio.
After long treatment on the pitch, the South African forward was taken from the field on a stretcher and wearing a neck-brace.
Santa Cruz came on in his place and it had taken a matter of 2 minutes and 30 seconds for the Paraguayan forward to make an impact, scoring a towering header with only his 3rd touch in Premier League football.
Bentley produced the cross from the byline and Santa Cruz rose above Riggott and Wheater to crash home a header for the equaliser.
Derbyshire served notice however that he is not willing to be left on the sidelines this season, and a pretty special goal it was by the 21 year old.
Picking up the ball on the left, he jinked inside and then curled a splendid shot that left Schwarzer grasping thin air on its way into the top corner.
In injury time, Wheater almost grabbed a point with a powerful header that Friedel clawed away and Samba cleared the loose ball in the nick of time.
Rovers had won it and Boro's frustration boiled over at the final whistle with an unseemly scuffle with Boateng at the centre of it.
