Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has insisted that he was never going to be fazed by a phone call from United States president Barack Obama because he had felt the full force of coaching icon and former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's infamous hairdryer treatment.
The Everton keeper emerged from last summer's World Cup as an all-American hero following a sensational performance in the 2-1 extra-time defeat by Belgium.
Howard captured the heart of a nation by breaking the tournament record for the number of saves made in a single game, which prompted President Obama to give Howard and teammate Clint Dempsey a bell, the Mirror reported.
Howard said that the call from the president is all set up, adding that one gets a knock on ones door from the team administrator, one goes downstairs in five minutes and off they go.
The keeper claimed that one just tries not to say anything stupid, because forever they would be remembered as the guy who said something stupid to the president.
But, he added that going into Ferguson's dressing room is more daunting because one knows that the president of the United States isn't going to yell at them.
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Howard said that when Ferguson yells at someone, that's absolutely the worst thing in the world.
Howard claimed that it's been an incredible year and speaking to president Obama was a big moment.