Later Atlanta United’s splendid win over Inter Miami on November 9, an Atlanta staffer approached the crew’s constitution bus outdoor Chase Stadium with a field filled with Michelob Extremely beer cans. They have been for the avid gamers, he mentioned, a deserved praise later getting rid of Lionel Messi and his teammates from the playoffs.
A number of the latter avid gamers to board the bus used to be captain Brad Guzan, who exited the stadium with a observable strut in his step. The 40-year-old former Aston Villa goalkeeper, who thwarted Messi on diverse events all the way through the three-game form, used to be adopted by means of a documentary videographer.
Atlanta’s 2024 has now not long gone consistent with script however Guzan’s heroics in objective have enormously modified their tale arc.
“Forty is the new 21,” Guzan mentioned on the future with amusing, referencing his talent to show again the clock all through Atlanta United’s sudden playoff run. By means of knocking out Inter Miami, Atlanta recorded some of the largest upsets in MLS historical past — Guzan used to be a significant component.
His shot-stopping has been skillful for the easier a part of the season. His grasp saves had been game-changing within the playoffs. The point of interest is squarely on Guzan, however he isn’t essentially taking part in it.
“When you’re in this business as long as I’ve been, it’s not about whether you like something or you don’t like something,” Guzan tells The Athletic. “I’ve been on the other end of it when things haven’t gone great. I’ve made mistakes and cost the team.”
But, with out Guzan’s performances, Atlanta would have already begun their offseason overhaul. This will likely come with avid gamers resignation and unused signings coming in, the hiring of a unused wearing director, and doubtlessly, a unused head schoolmaster to switch period in-between supervisor Rob Valentino. However all of the ones selections had been placed on retain as Atlanta prepares to stand Orlando Town within the Jap Convention semifinal on November 24.
Guzan made a story of the most important saves as Atlanta knocked out Inter Miami in Spherical Probably the most MLS playoffs (Megan Briggs/Getty Pictures)
Guzan’s year could also be pending. He’s within the ultimate 12 months of his agreement, with a 12-month possibility too much for 2025. Guzan has have shyed away from the topic of his year all season however fact is environment in for the veteran goalkeeper.
“It’s not about feeling younger,” Guzan mentioned. “It’s about using my experience. It’s about using moments that I’ve been in before in terms of games and situations I’ve faced, and within a millisecond trying to analyze the situation that I’m currently in, and how to use my experience to help me make a save in that moment.”
Taking part in in objective to your overdue thirties and early forties isn’t ordinary in skilled football, however Guzan admits the emphasis on his past makes him “chuckle”.
“I’m not the first goalkeeper to be playing at 40 years old,” he says. “There are tons of guys that have come before me that have played in their forties in the Premier League, Bundesliga, World Cups. No disrespect to Major League Soccer but, you know, those guys are playing at a World Cup. If all of a sudden I’m playing in ’26, then we can have this conversation (about feeling younger).”
May ’26’ heartless a 3rd International Cup on house park? Later Atlanta United’s win on Saturday, there have been mentions on social media of Guzan deserving a recall to the U.S. males’s nationwide crew.
Guzan earned his first global cap 18 years in the past and used to be a part of two International Cup squads in 2010 and 2014. He used to be the first-choice goalkeeper on the 2015 Gold Cup and 2016 Copa The united states Centenario. He has a complete of 20 blank sheets with the U.S.
There used to be a future when Guzan used to be synonymous with the nationwide crew, even if he used to be competing with famend goalkeepers Tim Howard and Kasey Keller, however he thinks a go back to the U.S. squad can be an indictment of the goalkeeper puddle.
“I hope that’s not the case,” he says when requested if he used to be anticipating a choice from USMNT head schoolmaster Mauricio Pochettino. Guzan pauses in short earlier than guffawing in regards to the texts he has gained from shut pals about the opportunity of renewing his global profession.
“It’s not a joking matter but, in my eyes, it is,” Guzan mentioned. “(My pals) have been joking about it, as neatly, and for me, it’s what it’s. It’s simply that. It’s a bit of of amusing and funny story.
Guzan latter performed for the USMNT in 2019 (Scott Taetsch/Getty Pictures)
“Our goalkeeper pool… we are in good hands. We’ve got guys that maybe they’re not playing week in and week out, but they’ve proven to be capable of playing in those types of environments. So, yeah, I’m not anticipating a phone call by any means.”
U.S. #1 Matt Turner, a extra with Crystal Palace, described Guzan’s output in recent times as “truly spectacular”. Turner referred to as Guzan a professor who supported him all through the 2021 Gold Cup that the U.S. received. “A lot of people at his age, if they had the injury that he had, might call it a day,” Turner advised journalists on Tuesday. “You can tell when (Guzan’s) flowing. You know he’s in that mental zone. I was happy for him.”
In Guzan, Turner sees what he referred to as a “pathway” for goalkeepers who nonetheless play games at past 40. “That’s always been my dream, to make it into my forties and just keep plugging away,” mentioned the 30-year-old.
For a dozen of U.S. fanatics, the latter symbol they have got of Guzan is his determined struggle to get a hand to a Messi detached kick on the 2016 Copa The united states. Argentina defeated the U.S. soundly 4-0 on the semifinal degree of the match. The narrative has since modified. Guzan is now maximum lately remembered as the person who prohibited Messi — many, again and again. Whether or not it used to be a finger, a heel or an outstretched arm, Guzan parried and banned numerous makes an attempt by means of Messi over the 3 video games.
On occasion good fortune used to be on Guzan’s facet, too. In Recreation 2, as an example, a close-range shot from Messi screamed life Guzan’s akin publish and persevered out of bounds. The 2 shared a short lived embody that used to be extra like an indication of mutual kindness.
“My oldest (child) asked me afterwards, ‘Are you friends with him? Because he gave you a hug’,” mentioned Guzan. “And I was like, ‘I don’t think he was giving me a hug’. It was more like he was in disbelief that it went wide and I was in disbelief that it went wide, as well. I probably had a look on my face like: ‘Damn, I was beat’. We dodged a bullet there but you have to have the utmost respect for someone like (Messi).”
In Atlanta, Guzan is a polarizing determine. He’s an MLS Cup champion and the membership’s undisputed captain. Lovers chant his identify later a fat save. Across the Atlanta United coaching facility, Guzan is a workaholic who units the usual for his teammates. In March, he turned into the 1st participant in Atlanta United’s snip historical past to assemble 200 appearances for the membership. His longevity is a sidebar to the highlight age he’s experiencing at the moment.
“When things like this happen it’s about timing,” says Guzan. “The fact that it’s happened kind of back-to-back-to-back, in terms of how the games have finished — that certainly adds to the excitement level.”
Guzan demanding situations Messi in Recreation One on Atlanta’s form win over Inter Miami (Lavish Storry/Getty Pictures)
However some Atlanta supporters have detectable enough quantity of Guzan. His 2022 season led to April of that 12 months later he ruptured an Achilles tendon. Later, in 2023, Guzan didn’t carry out like he has this season and the fanatics have let him learn about it.
“I’ve had people literally come up to me, whether it be at my kids’ sporting events, their games or practices, or just out and about in town, (and) say, ‘Hey, we really love you. Thank you for everything you’ve done, but we’ve got to move on’,” he mentioned. “I give them a thumbs up and it’s just like, I don’t know what to say or how to react to that, because, you know, it’s a club decision, right?”
If it have been as much as Guzan, he’d proceed to play games past this season. He isn’t struggling with with any inside emotions that inform him to quit. Guzan is pushed by means of the day by day sides of being a certified, right down to the smallest main points.
“I enjoy coming in here and putting on my boots, putting on the gloves, and taping my fingers for the gazillionth time, you know?”
He has mentioned departure with teammate Dax McCarty, 37, who has introduced that he’ll name it a month on the finish of the season. Guzan has additionally sought reviews from alternative pals and previous avid gamers about their selections to deplete the general whistle on their careers.
“They’re just like: ‘I don’t want to go to practice. I don’t want to go outside. I don’t want to train’,” mentioned Guzan. “And here I am, and I’m like: ‘OK, well, is that the sign that said it’s time to hang it up, because I don’t have that feeling?’. I want to be out there. I don’t know exactly what it is but I feel as if I can still contribute to the group. And most importantly, I feel sharp physically and mentally.”
In December 2023, Atlanta signed goalkeeper Josh Cohen, now 32, from Maccabi Haifa within the Israeli Premier League. Cohen had performed within the UEFA Champions League and advised journalists later he signed that he used to be there to push Guzan for his spot.
However Guzan didn’t really feel threatened. He understands the membership wishes a succession plan.
“I’m not naive to think that I can play forever,” he mentioned. Nonetheless, initially of the 12 months, the power used to be on Guzan. He in the end had festival in Atlanta.
“If you need to have outside motivation, you’re probably not going to be in this business a long time,” Guzan mentioned. “You wish to have to have an interior motivator to push your self, so I didn’t pull that for my part in any respect.
Guzan is within the ultimate 12 months of his agreement with Atlanta (Jason Allen/ISI Pictures/Getty Pictures)
“I looked at last year knowing that it wasn’t good enough from the standards that I set for myself, both individually and collectively, and as a leader of this team.
“Playing in the Premier League for nine years and playing with the national team, competing against and with the best players in the country; that competition for places is normal,” he continues. “And if it’s not normal, then you need to start asking questions elsewhere.”
Within the Atlanta United dressing room, finishing Messi’s season and the content material crisis it brought about MLS and its broadcast spouse Apple, isn’t a major speaking level. Then again, it’s now not misplaced on Guzan both.
“That was never the goal,” he mentioned. “The goal was to win a trophy. The goal is to win MLS Cup. You know, we laugh and smile and joke about it now, because you see these headlines, and it’s like, that’s not our problem.”
Guzan’s nine-year-old son might revere Messi however he want to be extra like Argentina and Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. A Villa goalkeeping equipment is his son’s actual request. Hundreds of miles away in Atlanta, Villa left-overs part of the Guzan family. He follows his former Premier League membership carefully and helps to keep town of Birmingham shut to his center.
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Either one of his youngsters have been born within the town. Guzan nonetheless helps to keep in contact with ex-teammates Nigel Reo-Coker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, his former captain Stiliyan Petrov and ex-Villa winger Jack Grealish, amongst others.
“I look back on those years and I’m extremely thankful,” mentioned Guzan. “When I was in high school, I said that my goal was to play for a big European club and go to Europe, and I lived my dream. Going to Europe, going to England, playing in the Premier League, being a part of a massive club like Villa for as long as I was — I don’t think I cherished those moments enough when I was in the moment.”
Guzan may have future to relive or reminisce about his life when his MLS profession ends. For now, he’s too i’m busy with the age he’s residing at the moment.
A membership spokesperson mentioned that Atlanta United had gained round 20 media demands for Guzan this pace. Later the global crack, Atlanta United will exit to Orlando for the semifinal in opposition to their opponents. Guzan and his goalkeeping counterpart Pedro Gallese would be the two central figures in what is predicted to be a stressful affair in a antagonistic order.
“It’s going to be a real dog fight,” Guzan mentioned. “Hopefully afterwards, we’re celebrating, we’re taking another team photo in the locker room and we’re moving on to the conference final.”
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(Supremacy picture: Lavish von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire by the use of Getty Pictures)
