It’s been 11 years since the curtain came down on Brad Friedel’s playing career, but the former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper is still very much involved in the world of football.

Having represented the United States at the very highest levels of the game, as well as played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Galatasaray, Liverpool and Spurs, he’s now targeting success from the very bottom of the English Football League.

So, how did he get here? And what has he actually been up to since he called time on an impressive playing career? Let’s find out.

Brad Friedel became Tottenham’s oldest-ever player

Brad Friedel played 450 times in the Premier League and became the oldest-ever player for two clubs: Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

Friedel established himself as a reliable shot stopper in England’s top flight during an eight-year stint with Blackburn Rovers. He left for Aston Villa after 357 appearances, and even a goal. There he continued an incredible run of consecutive league games, hitting a record 250.

He also became Villa’s oldest ever player aged 39 years and 259 days. A year later, he did the same for Tottenham Hotspur. Playing against his former club, he beat Jimmy Cantrell’s record that had stood for 80 years.

Joining the club aged 40, the American quickly established himself as an important figure. He pipped Herelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini for the #1 shirt, but that was until the arrival of Hugo Lloris. The Frenchman brought an end to Friedel’s run of consecutive league games at a huge 310.

Friedel retired in May 2015 after 50 appearances with Spurs, aged 44.

“If I’d have retired 10 years ago, I would have been a very happy man just to be able to come and play in the Premier League, which I consider the most competitive league in the world, for as long as I have, it’s been an absolute honour,” the American reflected.

He felt he could still play, feeling as physically fit as ever, but admitted he’d reached a time where he needed to decide where to stabilise his kids. Now, he had to think about their livelihoods. The foundations had been set, too, for a longer-standing relationship with Spurs. He revealed he’d signed on as an Ambassador at the club, focusing on the US. He’d also started working on his Pro Licence, eyeing a potential future in coaching.

Friedel moved into management after retiring

Friedel’s first steps upon retirement was broadcasting work, working with Fox Sports. He also began coaching.

There was a spell with the USA’s youth set-up as he took charge of the under-19 team. He also spent time as an assistant to the under-20 side that actually won the 2017 CONCACAF Championship. Friedel was handed his first head coach role in 2017. He took the helm at New England Revolution for the 2018 season.

It did not go well.

Taking the job, he promised 100% commitment and actually revealed former Spurs boss, Mauricio Pochettino was particularly important in helping prepare him for the world of coaching.

“His attention to detail and what I was able to see and learn from him, was priceless,” he told The Guardian in 2017. “The best way to describe it is, yes, he knows the tactics that he wants to play, and yes he knows how to implement them in training, but it’s all the extracurriculars around being a head coach that he manages himself, his staff, and all around him so well.”

Unfortunately for him, though, he did not enjoy the same levels of success that the Argentine had been enjoying with Tottenham. Friedel’s plan was for an aggressive style of football, pressing high up the pitch, but it brought an eighth-placed finish in the Eastern Conference. The team missed out on the MLS play-offs.

Friedel made adjustments ahead of the 2019 campaign, but they only led to more inconsistency and his eventual departure. He left in May 2019 with a record of 12 wins, 13 draws and 21 defeats over his 46 games in charge.

After leaving New England Revolution, Friedel joined NCE Soccer, helping work with aspiring goalkeepers as they set about on their own journeys. He also dived back into media work, including serving as a pundit with BBC Sport for major tournaments.

His next major role came when joining Beşiktaş, marking a return to Turkey having spent the early part of his playing career there with Galatasaray. There had been talk of him becoming sporting director but, ultimately, he was given the role of board advisor.

The mission? To make the club stronger. Friedel’s focus was on improving their transfer strategy and structure, with his ambition to establish a global network for the club. For all that ambition and positive intent, though, things didn’t really go to plan.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst left as head coach, there were disagreements around football operations and transfer strategy. Friedel was let go after just five months. He didn’t go quietly.

Appearing on Turkish TV, the American explained his departure and, having been accused of receiving commissions from transfers, sought to defend himself. He revealed too that the initial offer was to become sporting director, only for the job title to change after discussions.

It was an abrupt end, but not the end of Friedel’s journey in football, nor his chance to be a sporting director.

Brad Friedel’s next chapter is with Shrewsbury Town

For 30 years, Roland Wycherley had sat as Shrewsbury Town chairman. But it’s all change now, with a new ownership group taking the helm, led by Miami businessman, Scott Davidson.

Davidson’s company, Biscayne ST LLC, is taking an 87.4% majority stake in the League Two outfit. Central to this new era will be Brad Friedel. He has returned to England for his next chapter as the club’s new sporting director.

Davidson became director and majority shareholder of Scottish club, Spartans back in 2021 and helped guide them into the Scottish professional football league for the first ever time. He will now look to bring similar success to Shropshire.

“Our goal is to provide the community and our supporters with a club of which we can all be proud,” the new chairman assured.

Friedel, meanwhile, has another chance to make his mark off the pitch. Building on all the experiences he’s had throughout a long, illustrious career, he’ll be tasked with helping lead Shrewsbury into a bold new chapter. Having continued to find ways to remain in the game, he now has the chance to potentially do something very special.