Brian McBride

Brian McBride played for Fulham as a striker from 2004 until 2008. Signed by Chris Coleman from Columbus Crew, he became a cult legend with the club, so much so that the bar inside Craven Cottage was named McBride's in June 2009. A United States international totalling 98 caps and 30 goals, he scored 39 goals in 153 appearances for Fulham.

Before Fulham
Born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, McBride played at Buffalo Grove High School, where he led them to the Illinois state championship in 1988, his junior year. During a playoff game against Fremd, Brian broke his nose in the first half, but in the second half to score the winning goal. In his four years of high school, he scored 80 goals, 33 of which as a senior, despite playing his senior season as a defender.

He then had an illustrious career with Saint Louis University, from which he graduated in 1993. In his four seasons with them, he made 89 appearances, and set career records for goals (72), assists (40) and total points (184).

Having been an incredibly versatile player all over the pitch in his amateur career, Brian decided to become a striker as a professional. He began his career at Milwaukee Rampage, where his prolific goalscoring led to a move to Germany, where he played for Wolfsburg in 1994, who at the time were in the German Second Division. His stay in Germany was not a successful one, and he struggled to become a mainstay in the side and only managed 18 appearances with just 2 goals.

Once the MLS had started up in the United States in 1996, Brian returned home and signed for Columbus Crew where he stayed for 8 seasons, confirming his departure at the end of the 2003 season.

Whilst at Columbus Crew, he made two loan moves to England. First playing for Preston North End during the 2000-01 season in the First Division, then a short loan to Everton in 2003 to make his first appearances in the Premier League.

Fulham (2004-2008)
Brian signed for Fulham on 31 January 2004, as the club bought his 'rights' from the MLS for a reported fee of $1.5 million (£800,000) on a contract that would run for two and a half years. He made a perfect start just days later in which he made his debut off the bench to score the winning goal during a 2-1 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

He played 18 games during the last half of the 2003–04 season, scoring a total of 5 goals. His scoring remained at a steady pace for the Whites over the following two seasons, with 9 goals in 2004-05, and 10 goals in 2005-06.

On 10 March 2006, Brian signed a one-year extension on his contract which took him through the end of the 2006–07 season, which was later extended once again for the 2007-08 season.

He was Fulham's top scorer during the 2006-07 season with 12 goals to his name, earning the Player of the Season award from the fans, later becoming club captain in what turned out to be his final season at Craven Cottage.

On the opening day of the Premier League in 2007-08, Brian dislocated his kneecap when scoring the opening goal during a 2-1 loss at home to Middlesbrough and wouldn't make his return to action until a friendly against Cardiff City in late January 2008. His return was a welcome one, especially since the club were fighting relegation, and he duly delivered with vital goals against Everton, Reading and Birmingham City to aid Fulham to a miraculous escape to stay in the Premier League. He once again earned the Player of the Season award from the Fulham faithful.

On 28 May 2008, McBride announced that he would be leaving Fulham to return to the MLS in order to end his career in the United States

After Fulham
Brian moved to Chicago Fire where he spent two years, finishing his career to a standing ovation when substituted after scoring in his final League match.

He later was in involved with English non-League side Wembley, where he came out of retirement in 2012 with several other high profile footballers to participate in their FA Cup campaign. However, the run lasted only one match as they were knocked out by Uxbridge in the preliminary qualifying round.

In 2011, he set up the McBride's Attacking Soccer Academy, and was the Co-Founder & Chief Strategic Officer for TiPEVO in charge of strategic offerings and outreach to the youth sports community.

In January 2020, Brian was named the General Manager of the United States men's national team.

Fulham Matches
Editing in progress