On Wednesday 4 January 2012 when Everton faced Bolton Wanderers at Goodison, Tim Howard accomplished what no other goalkeeper had done in 134 years of Everton history: he scored a goal.

On a night with a fierce, swirling wind, Howard hoofed a backpass up the pitch.  It bounced on the edge of the Bolton D and caught a gust before looping over the head of Bolton’s hapless goalkeeper, Adam Bogdan. Adhering to the unspoken rule of goalkeepers, Howard refused to celebrate. ‘I feel for him. I have been beaten by a goalkeeper before and it is quite awful,’ he said afterwards.

A loan signing from Manchester United following the retirement of Nigel Martyn in 2006, Howard signed permanently for £3million a year later after impressing through the 2006/07 season.  He had first made his reputation as an outstanding young goalkeeper with New Jersey Imperials in United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues in the late-1990s. Such was his potential that he was snapped up almost immediately by the New York Metrostars and earned his first United States cap in 2002.  Manchester United paid $4million to bring him to Old Trafford in 2003, and he replaced the club’s World Cup winning goalkeeper Fabian Barthez. Howard made the PFA Team of the Year in his first season at Old Trafford, but later lost his place to Roy Carroll then Edwin Van der Sar.

Athletic, agile and brave, Howard possessed all the necessary facets one would expect from a top class goalkeeper, but brought the consistency lacking in many of the players who had tried to fill the Everton goal since the departure of Neville Southall. There was great solidity in the Everton defence during his early days at the club. Of the five seasons in which Everton have conceded fewest goals in their entire history, three came in Howard’s first three years with the club.

Certainly he played his part in this, but there were sometimes doubts about aspects of his game.  At times he seemed susceptible to long range shots and his record at saving penalties was – initially – poor. He did, nevertheless, improve on these shortcomings.

Howard came of age as Everton goalkeeper in the 2009 FA Cup semi final when Everton faced Manchester United. After a goalless draw the match went to penalties. Tim Cahill missed Everton’s opening penalty, but Howard rose to the occasion against his former club. First he swooped low to save Dimitar Berbatov’s poorly hit effort with his legs, then dived brilliantly to keep out Rio Ferdinand’s shot.  Everton went on to win 4-2, and after the win had been secured Everton’s victorious players piled on top of their hero.

‘I have to say because of the way things all worked out and on a personal level for me the semi final at Wembley was my best match day moment for a lot of reasons playing against your old club particularly when it's Manchester United,’ Howard told Bluekipper.com in 2010.  ‘Great atmosphere, great stadium, the moment was huge and also the icing on the cake was that I was in a cup final with Everton which meant a huge amount to me, so that was definitely a day that I relish.’

Howard succeeded Kasey Keller as the United States’ first choice goalkeeper in 2007 and represented his country at the 2009 Confederations’ Cup, where he won the Golden Glove Award for the best goalkeeper, the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 Gold Cup.

In March 2012 he signed a four year contract extension at Goodison, which ensured a decade’s service at the club. ‘I couldn't be happier. I've had a smile on my face ever since we finalised the deal,’ Howard told evertontv at the time. ‘When you have a really good relationship in life and both sides are eager to continue and keep that going, it's a no-brainer. This hasn't been a knockdown, drawn-out type of negotiation with meetings or anything like that. They were very happy to keep me here and I was very happy to stay. It's a place that is home for me.’

When Roberto Martinez took over as Everton's manager in the 2013/14 season, Howard’s form improved. The Blues launched a strong push for Champions League qualification in Martinez's debut season, with Howard playing a key role in a defence that became one of the Premier League's most formidable. His influence on the pitch and leadership with younger players earned him a two-year contract extension in April 2014.

Howard carried this form into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he became a hero during the Round of 16 match against Belgium. In that game, he made a record 16 saves, keeping American hopes alive into extra time before his Everton teammate Romelu Lukaku finally broke through to secure Belgium’s win. While many of the saves were routine, Howard's performance made him a symbol of resilience – whom fans affectionately dubbed the “people’s Secretary of Defense”.

After the game, President Barack Obama personally called team captain Clint Dempsey and Howard. Obama congratulated them on their efforts and praised their role in elevating soccer's profile in the United States.

“As somebody whose first sport was soccer — although I was never that good — to see the way you guys captured the hearts and imaginations of the whole country is unbelievable,” Obama remarked.

Citing record TV ratings and massive watch parties across the country, the president expressed how the team had won admiration not only for their performances but for how they conducted themselves. “You guys just carry yourselves with a lot of class,” Obama said. “And it makes people really respect the sport, and you guys are really great models for a lot of sportsmen here in the States.”

Shortly after the World Cup, Howard announced a one-year break from international football to spend more time with his family. However, this break seemed to coincide with a dip in form during the first half of the 2014/15 season, as a series of errors contributed to Everton's struggles compared to Martinez’s first year in charge. The old susceptibility to long shots returned, as did a habit of remaining rooted to his line at set pieces.

A calf injury sidelined Howard in late December 2014, providing backup Joel Robles a chance to shine. Despite a shaky start, Robles earned praise for a series of clean sheets before Howard returned to reclaim his spot. Martinez’s decision to reinstate Howard was controversial, but the veteran goalkeeper responded with more solid performances, recording four clean sheets in Everton’s final 14 matches of the season.

Despite calls for a new goalkeeper, Howard started the following season, 2015/16 his tenth at the club. Alas his fortunes mirrored those of a team in decline. His waning performances became a significant issue for Everton, with repeated errors undermining the team’s defence, particularly in set-piece situations. Howard was an increasingly nervy and unreliable presence. His lack of command in the penalty area, especially on crosses and headers, led to numerous goals, prompting growing calls for understudy Joel Robles to replace him. While Howard occasionally showed flashes of his old form, his inconsistency became a major liability, yet manager Martinez continued to stand by his veteran keeper, a decision that many viewed as increasingly unwise. The situation was surmised by an ESPN headline: “Tim Howard's errors becoming a major problem for Everton.”

In early 2016, Howard’s time as Everton's number one came to an end when an injury allowed Robles to take over. Howard announced his move to Colorado Rapids, set for May, and played his final two home games at Goodison Park, giving him the chance to bid farewell to Everton fans before his departure for Major League Soccer.

Howard was later inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame, where he fondly recalled his time at Everton and praised former manager David Moyes, calling him the best manager he ever played for. In his acceptance speech, Howard reflected on the significant impact Moyes and Everton had on his career, cementing his love for the club and the values instilled in him during his time at Goodison Park.

“If Manchester United is the biggest football club in the world, then Everton, without doubt, is the greatest,” he said. “Everton is one of the best things that ever happened in my life.”

“I am so very proud to be an Evertonian and what that means and how much of a fabric of the Club that I am.

“David Moyes is the greatest manager I ever played for. I stand before you today to tell you that if he asked me to run through the gates of Hell seven days a week, I'd smash them every single day because that's how great it was.

“He instilled in me leadership, accountability, responsibility, taught me to be mature… I grew up into the person that I always hoped I'd be playing for David Moyes.”

While Howard’s later years at Everton were marred by an increasing number of errors that could leave fans tearing their hair out, Howard was undoubtedly one of Everton’s finest goalkeepers, combining athleticism, bravery and leadership to anchor the defence for a decade. In his early seasons he helped Everton achieve some of their best ever defensive records, and his great performances, like his penalty saves in the 2009 FA Cup semi-final and his World Cup heroics with the US, earned him global recognition. Scoring a goal as a goalkeeper even added to his legend.

Howard was also a great servant to the club and a player who took immense pride in being an Evertonian. His loyalty and pride in being an Evertonian were clear, as he embraced the club's culture and carried its values both on and off the pitch throughout his decade-long service and beyond.