MILLIE'S BACK Milbrett recalled into U.S. Women's Team
With April Heinrichs no longer coach, Tiffeny Milbrett has ended her self-exile and accepted an invitation to play with the U.S. Women's National Team next month. Linda Cuttone/SportsVue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Tiffeny Milbrett's self-imposed exile is over. She is back with the U.S. National Team, BigAppleSoccer.com has learned.
Milbrett, the high-scoring and creative striker who refused to play for former national coach April Heinrichs last year, has been recalled into the team for the June 26 international friendly against Canada in Virginia Beach, Va.
Milbrett notified BigAppleSoccer via e-mail on Monday morning only hours after she returned home from a playing stint in Sweden.
U.S. Soccer is expected to make an official announcement soon.
The 32-year-old Milbrett refused to play for the women's team last year as long as April Heinrichs was still coach. Heinrichs resigned earlier year.
She said OK to a return to the national side after Greg Ryan was named to succeed Heinrichs.
Needless to say, Milbrett was quite happy about her recall and was raring to go.
"It's exciting for this new time and transition for the National Team," Milbrett wrote in an e-mail. "Obviously, I'm ecstatic at being contacted by Greg and asked to come into camp for the USA. It really is something that I had turning around inside me ever since leaving. I always said that I wouldn't come back unless the new coach is the right fit for me as a person and as I player. That is a step forward from before.
"So, hopefully this will work out and be the right situation where I can just play and be me. But I think the most important thing here is that Greg is going to be taking the team in the new direction that I feel is needed for the team to be the best it can be."
Milbrett performed in Sweden the past several months.
"Sweden was just awesome," she wrote in an e-mail. "It brought me back as a person, as a player, the way that I have felt with Clive!!!!"
Milbrett was referring to the late University of Portland coach Clive Charles, who passed away from cancer several years ago.
"So, it was the best decision and the best experience," wrote Milbrett, who added that she was returning to Sweden in August for another seven games.
Milbrett last played for the U.S. women in a part-time role during the 2003 Women's World Cup. She wasn't happy with the way she was used by Heinrichs or the coach's tactics.
Milbrett has been stuck on 99 international goals in 199 appearances since.
In an e-mail interview with BigAppleSoccer.com before the Athens Olympics last summer, Milbrett said that she saw "myself for sure returning to the National Team if there is a change of coach and if those changes are going to be right for me. My decision to leave the team was never because I didn't want to play soccer. I can't wait to be able to play again."
The June 26 game will be televised by ESPN2 at 3 p.m.
Michael Lewis can be reach at SoccerWriter516@aol.com. He will only answer e-mails and letters that are signed or have names.
