JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nowadays, it’s becoming more commonplace to see young standouts from the U.S. and Canadian youth national team programs turning professional with teams in the USL.

Former U.S. U17 National Team captain Hugo Arellano was one of the most recent signings for the LA Galaxy II, with the now U20 international joining players like Orlando City B’s Pierre Da Silva and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2’s Alphonso Davies in signing with a USL club to start his professional career.

It’s a far cry from the way things were in the U.S. soccer landscape when Tim Howard made his professional debut for the North Jersey Imperials as a high-schooler. The U.S. National Team goalkeeper spent his first professional season in the USISL D-3 Pro League in 1997 before making the move to MLS with the MetroStars the following season.

“Yeah, it’s different,” Howard said on Monday at U.S. National Team training. “It wasn’t as glamorous, it was just kinda like get games under your belt.

“I was a high school kid playing with players who had knocked around the lower leagues. They were plumbers and electricians and youth soccer coaches and they kinda did this on the side, so it was good. It was good for me to kinda be a boy amongst men and learn my trade from them.”

From those humble beginnings, Howard has become one of the iconic figures in U.S. Soccer history. The 37-year-old made his 32nd World Cup Qualifying appearance on Tuesday night at EverBank Field, breaking a tie with Kasey Keller for the most in the team’s history.

One of the key figures in his success at that early stage was Tim Mulqueen, who brought Howard to the Imperials when he was the club’s head coach. The goalkeeping coach for U.S. Youth National Teams and the MetroStars, Mulqueen’s influence left a lasting impression on Howard as he emerged as a professional.

“It was good because he has always been tough on me, but it was tough love,” Howard said. “He always had my best interests at heart and it was good to grow with someone who not only loved me, but also didn’t take any crap from me as a young kid and pushed me.”

Howard went from the MetroStars to a long and successful career in Europe, while also becoming a mainstay in goal for the United States. Having seen first-hand the academy set-ups at Manchester United and Everton, Howard can attest that there’s still work to be done in terms of player development on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, but that the gap is gradually closing.

“It’s getting closer,” Howard said. “It’s hard, those things have been in place for decades, but I think as we grow with the league those are going to be partnerships that will not only help the younger player come through but also help MLS clubs.”

• TRENDING: Red Bulls II Claim USL Regular Season Championship

Meanwhile, the partnership between his new club, the Colorado Rapids, and the Charlotte Independence has paid dividends for both teams this season. The Rapids and Independence are both sitting comfortably in the playoff positions in their respective leagues, and former Independence loanees such as Marlon Hairson and Dominique Badji have contributed to the Rapids’ successful ascent up the MLS Western Conference after last season’s struggles.

“Our guys who’ve been in Charlotte have flourished,” he said. “There’s nothing you can measure against playing games. Training’s great, [but] being in that environment of actually playing games and having it matter, it’s vitally important, whether it be MLS or the USL.”

That’s particularly true for a player who could look to take the reins someday from Howard with the Rapids in goalkeeper John Berner, who has spent much of the past two seasons on loan with the Independence, recording 33 appearances.

Berner’s time may have to wait a little longer, though. Almost 20 years after that first professional appearance for the Imperials, and with 110 appearances for the United States under his belt, there seems to be no slowing down for Howard.

“It means everything,” Howard said. “When we can get to a year from now and exhale and feel like we’re in the draw for the World Cup, that will be everything. I’m a small part of this thing, and I enjoy every second of it.”