343: Marcus Hahnemann, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, Barclays Premier League 2010/11 Collector Binder

Today Emlyn Jones takes a look at a real American who very much fought for the right of every man (to get three points away at Manchester City) during an admirable career on both sides of the Atlantic. He also very much took Jurgen Klopp’s love of “heavy metal football” to new levels and has celebrated his retirement by growing a truly exceptional moustache. Whatcha gonna do when Hahnemannia runs wild on you? Over to Emlyn to fill us in.

"When it comes crashing down and it hurts inside

You gotta take a stand, it don't help to hide

If you hurt my friends, then you hurt my pride

I gotta be a man, I can't let it slide".

Wise words for any goalkeeper to live by... brother. Today's post covers another Real American, a key part of the 2005/06 Reading side this blog has mentioned on one or two occasions.

Marcus Hahnemann was born in Kent, Washington in 1972. In his final year of high school, he planned to join the Marines as a pilot; a year too young to enlist, he instead accepted a sports scholarship to Seattle's Pacific University. With a college record of 46 clean sheets in 64 games, he was offered a professional contract with the Seattle Sounders in the A-League, choosing 'soccer' over a military career. In 1997, he transferred to fledgling Major League Soccer, signing for Colorado Rapids owing to his excellent performances. He set a number of records for appearances, and was named the top defender in the league. Overseas clubs had taken note, and an offer of £80,000 from Fulham saw him move to the English second tier side ahead of the 1999/2000 season.

Hahnemann's prior performances suggested he'd continue his upward trajectory, however, he was unable to displace Maik Taylor as the first choice in London. When Fulham were promoted to the Premier League at the end of his second season, Dutch stopper Edwin van der Sar was enlisted, further pushing the American down the pecking order. Hahnemann was loaned out first to Rochdale, and then to promotion-seeking Reading of the third tier. He played six games for the Berkshire side, keeping four clean sheets and failing to lose a game. When his Fulham contract expired at the end of the season, the Royals were quick to swoop.

After four games the following season, Hahnemann replaced veteran goalkeeper Phil Whitehead, and remained first choice thereon. The team improved incrementally with Hahnemann in goal, culminating in the record-breaking 2005/06 season that I have written about plenty on this blog previously. Nicknamed USA, Hahnemann was the bedrock upon which the title-winning season success was built. Only Preston North End conceded fewer goals than Reading, and 22 clean sheets saw Marcus named in the team of the season. As good as this season was, it remained a surprise when Reading went on to manage an eighth place finish in their first top flight season; 13 clean sheets playing a key part. Unfortunately, the performances couldn't be maintained, and despite 'USA' making the most saves of any top-flight goalkeeper the following year, Reading were relegated on the final day of the 2007/08 season.

Despite being among the highest valued transfer assets, Marcus remained with the club. However, Reading failed to win promotion in their first season back in the second tier, marking the end of an era, with boss Steve Coppell, captain Graeme Murty, and Hahnemann among those to move on. Promoted champions Wolverhampton Wanderers offered Hahnemann a contract, and he moved to the Midlands, initially expected to be reserve keeper to Wayne Hennessey. However, a poor start to the season saw manager Mick McCarthy turn to Hahnemann a few months in, and he kept hold of the jersey as Wolves completed an impressive turnaround, maintaining Premier League status. At the time, petrol mongers Castrol provided analytical services to FIFA, and their matriculations deemed Hahnemann the best goalkeeper in the world.

Unfortunately, the following season, Wolves struggled; Hahnemann described falling out with McCarthy and his assistant, Terry Conor, exemplified when the goalie intervened to defend teammate George Elokobi following a loss. When Conor told him his opinion wasn't welcome, a sudded, naked Hahnemann had to be restrained by a besuited Matt Murray from leaving the showers to express his views in a more forthright manner. The writing was on the wall, and following November's defeat to Blackpool, Hahnemann lost his place in the side, never to regain it.

He left at the end of the season, and was handed an unexpected deal with Everton, to act as understudy to international teammate Tim Howard. This reflected the international career of Hahnemann, as although he won nine caps and attended two World Cups, he was second choice behind first Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, and then the aforementioned Howard. He debuted in 1994, however following a couple more games, didn't play again until 2003. He never complained, viewing being called into the squad as an honour. He was similarly professional at Everton, however having failed to make an appearance, he was released at the end of the season.

Hahnemann returned to his first side, the Seattle Sounders. He remained until December 2014, when, aged 42, he called time on his career. He now works in development, holds a commercial pilot's license, and appears as a pundit covering the Sounders. Sporting, as shown on recent Instagram posts, a truly excellent moustache.

Marcus is rightly remembered among the very top tier of Reading goalkeepers. He started every game of our first two seasons in the top tier, only missing a total of around 115 minutes when forced off with injury. Keen to show his support, Hahnemann was pictured taking a seat in the stands, sporting a t-shirt professing his love of US metal band Tool. He made no secret of his love of metal music, presenting US band Five Finger Death Punch with a Wolves shirt prior to one of their gigs, and also recording a song with Reading based band Malefice. He's not alone among metal loving goalkeepers, with USA teammate Kasey Keller also a fan, and he turned fellow Reading stopper Jamie Young onto the harder stuff. Perhaps metal's a natural fit for the inherent bravery of anyone who takes on the hardest role on the pitch. To return to the song that opened this blog; "I got something deep inside of me; courage is the thing that keeps us free".