Brad Guzan on thriving at 40, halting Lionel Messi and why USMNT recall speak makes him ‘giggle’

After Atlanta United’s beautiful win over Inter Miami on November 9, an Atlanta staffer approached the workforce’s constitution bus exterior Chase Stadium with a field stuffed with Michelob Extremely beer cans. They had been for the gamers, he stated, a deserved reward after eliminating Lionel Messi and his teammates from the playoffs.

Among the many final gamers to board the bus was captain Brad Guzan, who exited the stadium with a noticeable strut in his step. The 40-year-old former Aston Villa goalkeeper, who thwarted Messi on quite a few events all through the three-game sequence, was adopted by a documentary videographer.

Atlanta’s 2024 has not gone in response to script however Guzan’s heroics in objective have drastically modified their story arc.

“Forty is the brand new 21,” Guzan stated on the time with amusing, referencing his means to show again the clock throughout Atlanta United’s stunning playoff run. By knocking out Inter Miami, Atlanta recorded one of many greatest upsets in MLS historical past — Guzan was a significant factor.

His shot-stopping has been wonderful for the higher a part of the season. His clutch saves have been game-changing within the playoffs. The main focus is squarely on Guzan, however he isn’t essentially having fun with it.

“Once you’re on this enterprise so long as I’ve been, it’s not about whether or not you want one thing otherwise you don’t like one thing,” Guzan tells The Athletic. “I’ve been on the opposite finish of it when issues haven’t gone nice. I’ve made errors and value the workforce.”

But, with out Guzan’s performances, Atlanta would have already begun their offseason overhaul. This can embody gamers leaving and new signings coming in, the hiring of a brand new sporting director, and doubtlessly, a brand new head coach to interchange interim supervisor Rob Valentino. However all of these selections have been placed on maintain as Atlanta prepares to face Orlando Metropolis within the Jap Convention semifinal on November 24.

Guzan’s future can be pending. He’s within the last yr of his contract, with a 12-month choice remaining for 2025. Guzan has averted the topic of his future all season however actuality is setting in for the veteran goalkeeper.

“It’s not about feeling youthful,” Guzan stated. “It’s about utilizing my expertise. It’s about utilizing moments that I’ve been in earlier than when it comes to video games and conditions I’ve confronted, and inside a millisecond attempting to investigate the scenario that I’m presently in, and tips on how to use my expertise to assist me make a save in that second.”

Enjoying in objective in your late thirties and early forties isn’t uncommon in skilled soccer, however Guzan admits the emphasis on his age makes him “chuckle”.

“I’m not the primary goalkeeper to be taking part in at 40 years outdated,” he says. “There are tons of fellows which have come earlier than me which have performed of their forties within the Premier League, Bundesliga, World Cups. No disrespect to Main League Soccer however, you understand, these guys are taking part in at a World Cup. If abruptly I’m taking part in in ’26, then we are able to have this dialog (about feeling youthful).”

May ’26’ imply a 3rd World Cup on house soil? After 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 workforce.

Guzan earned his first worldwide cap 18 years in the past and was a part of two World Cup squads in 2010 and 2014. He was the first-choice goalkeeper on the 2015 Gold Cup and 2016 Copa America Centenario. He has a complete of 20 clear sheets with the U.S.

There was a time when Guzan was synonymous with the nationwide workforce, even when he was competing with famend goalkeepers Tim Howard and Kasey Keller, however he thinks a return to the U.S. squad can be an indictment of the goalkeeper pool.

“I hope that’s not the case,” he says when requested if he was anticipating a name from USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Guzan pauses briefly earlier than laughing concerning the texts he has acquired from shut buddies about the opportunity of renewing his worldwide profession.

“It’s not a joking matter however, in my eyes, it’s,” Guzan stated. “(My buddies) had been joking about it, as nicely, and for me, it’s what it’s. It’s simply that. It’s a little bit of amusing and joke.

“Our goalkeeper pool… we’re in good arms. We’ve received guys that possibly they’re not taking part in week in and week out, however they’ve confirmed to be able to taking part in in these sorts of environments. So, yeah, I’m not anticipating a cellphone name by any means.”

U.S. No 1 Matt Turner, a backup with Crystal Palace, described Guzan’s output currently as “actually spectacular”. Turner known as Guzan a mentor who supported him throughout the 2021 Gold Cup that the U.S. gained. “Lots of people at his age, if that they had the damage that he had, may name it a day,” Turner instructed reporters on Tuesday. “You’ll be able to inform when (Guzan’s) flowing. You already know he’s in that psychological zone. I used to be glad for him.”

In Guzan, Turner sees what he known as a “pathway” for goalkeepers who nonetheless play at age 40. “That’s at all times been my dream, to make it into my forties and simply preserve plugging away,” stated the 30-year-old.

For lots of U.S. followers, the final picture they’ve of Guzan is his determined try and get a hand to a Messi free kick on the 2016 Copa America. Argentina defeated the U.S. soundly 4-0 on the semifinal stage of the match. The narrative has since modified. Guzan is now most just lately remembered as the person who stopped Messi — many, many occasions. Whether or not it was a finger, a heel or an outstretched arm, Guzan parried and blocked numerous makes an attempt by Messi over the three video games.

Typically luck was on Guzan’s facet, too. In Recreation 2, for instance, a close-range shot from Messi screamed previous Guzan’s close to put up and continued out of bounds. The 2 shared a short embrace that was extra like an indication of mutual esteem.

“My oldest (baby) requested me afterwards, ‘Are you buddies with him? As a result of he gave you a hug’,” stated Guzan. “And I used to be like, ‘I don’t suppose he was giving me a hug’. It was extra like he was in disbelief that it went huge and I used to be in disbelief that it went huge, as nicely. I most likely had a glance on my face like: ‘Rattling, I used to be beat’. We dodged a bullet there however you must have the utmost respect for somebody like (Messi).”

In Atlanta, Guzan is a polarizing determine. He’s an MLS Cup champion and the membership’s undisputed captain. Followers chant his identify after an enormous save. Across the Atlanta United coaching facility, Guzan is a workaholic who units the usual for his teammates. In March, he grew to become the primary participant in Atlanta United’s brief historical past to make 200 appearances for the membership. His longevity is a sidebar to the highlight second he’s experiencing at current.

“When issues like this occur it’s about timing,” says Guzan. “The truth that it’s occurred type of back-to-back-to-back, when it comes to how the video games have completed — that definitely provides to the thrill degree.”

However some Atlanta supporters have seen sufficient of Guzan. His 2022 season resulted in April of that yr after he ruptured an Achilles tendon. Then, in 2023, Guzan didn’t carry out like he has this season and the followers have let him learn about it.

“I’ve had individuals actually come as much as me, whether or not it’s at my youngsters’ sporting occasions, their video games or practices, or simply out and about on the town, (and) say, ‘Hey, we actually love you. Thanks for the whole lot you’ve accomplished, however we’ve received to maneuver on’,” he stated. “I give them a thumbs up and it’s similar to, I don’t know what to say or tips on how to react to that, as a result of, you understand, it’s a membership determination, proper?”

If it had been as much as Guzan, he’d proceed to play past this season. He isn’t battling with any interior emotions that inform him to retire. Guzan is pushed by the day-to-day facets of being knowledgeable, right down to the smallest particulars.

“I get pleasure from coming in right here and placing on my boots, placing on the gloves, and taping my fingers for the gazillionth time, you understand?”

He has mentioned retirement with teammate Dax McCarty, 37, who has introduced that he’ll name it a day on the finish of the season. Guzan has additionally sought opinions from different buddies and former gamers about their selections to blow the ultimate whistle on their careers.

“They’re similar to: ‘I don’t need to go to observe. I don’t need to go exterior. I don’t need to practice’,” stated Guzan. “And right here I’m, and I’m like: ‘OK, nicely, is that the signal that stated it’s time to hold it up, as a result of I don’t have that feeling?’. I need to be on the market. I don’t know precisely what it’s however I really feel as if I can nonetheless contribute to the group. And most significantly, I really feel sharp bodily 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 instructed reporters after he signed that he was there to push Guzan for his spot.

However Guzan didn’t really feel threatened. He understands the membership wants a succession plan.

“I’m not naive to suppose that I can play perpetually,” he stated. Nonetheless, in the beginning of the yr, the stress was on Guzan. He lastly had competitors in Atlanta.

“If you have to have exterior motivation, you’re most likely not going to be on this enterprise a very long time,” Guzan stated. “You must have an inside motivator to push your self, so I didn’t take that personally in anyway.

“I checked out final yr understanding that it wasn’t ok from the requirements that I set for myself, each individually and collectively, and as a frontrunner of this workforce.

“Enjoying within the Premier League for 9 years and taking part in with the nationwide workforce, competing in opposition to and with the perfect gamers within the nation; that competitors for locations is regular,” he continues. “And if it’s not regular, then you have to begin asking questions elsewhere.”

Contained in the Atlanta United dressing room, ending Messi’s season and the content material disaster it prompted MLS and its broadcast associate Apple, isn’t a primary speaking level. Nevertheless, it’s not misplaced on Guzan both.

“That was by no means the objective,” he stated. “The objective was to win a trophy. The objective is to win MLS Cup. You already know, we giggle and smile and joke about it now, since you see these headlines, and it’s like, that’s not our downside.”

Guzan’s nine-year-old son might idolize Messi however he wish to be extra like Argentina and Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. A Villa goalkeeping package is his son’s newest request. Hundreds of miles away in Atlanta, Villa stays part of the Guzan family. He follows his former Premier League membership intently and retains town of Birmingham near his coronary heart.

Each of his youngsters had been born within the metropolis. Guzan nonetheless retains 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 again on these years and I’m extraordinarily grateful,” stated Guzan. “After I was in highschool, I stated that my objective was to play for an enormous European membership and go to Europe, and I lived my dream. Going to Europe, going to England, taking part in within the Premier League, being part of an enormous membership like Villa for so long as I used to be — I don’t suppose I cherished these moments sufficient after I was within the second.”

Guzan may have time to relive or reminisce about his previous when his MLS profession ends. For now, he’s too preoccupied with the second he’s dwelling presently.

A membership spokesperson stated that Atlanta United had acquired round 20 media requests for Guzan this week. After the worldwide break, Atlanta United will journey to Orlando for the semifinal in opposition to their rivals. Guzan and his goalkeeping counterpart Pedro Gallese would be the two central figures in what is anticipated to be a tense affair in a hostile setting.

“It’s going to be an actual canine combat,” Guzan stated. “Hopefully afterwards, we’re celebrating, we’re taking one other workforce picture within the locker room and we’re transferring on to the convention last.”

(Prime picture: Wealthy von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)