Brad Friedel Signs 1-Year Contract with Tottenham, Will Become Club Ambassador

Brad Friedel put pen to paper on a one-year deal that will see him stay with Tottenham Hotspur while also taking on the role of club ambassador.   

The club's official Twitter account broke the news on Monday:

The announcement was followed by an official statement on Spurs' website, explaining what Friedel's new role as ambassador will look like:

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Our goalkeeper's Ambassadorial role will have a wide-ranging remit that will include greater involvement in our Global Coaching programme and engaging with our 30 Supporters Clubs from across North America as we continue to increase our global presence and bring our international fanbase closer to the Club.

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Friedel has been a mainstay in the Premier League for more than a decade, moving to North London in 2011 following three seasons with Aston Villa.

At Tottenham, Friedel plays as a backup behind French international Hugo Lloris, a wildly talented but inconsistent stopper. Having the hugely experienced Friedel as a second option in case of injury has worked out well for Spurs over the years, so it's not surprising the team decided to extend his stay with an extra year.

He's also one of the respected internationals in the history of the United States Men's National Team, and his new role as club ambassador will only help increase the international appeal of Tottenham, particularly in North America.

As for Friedel, extending his career by another year knowing full well he won't be called on to play unless disaster strikes is good business, as Squawka's Jack Watson pointed out:

His employer couldn't help but take a friendly swing at the American stopper:

Friedel previously had his own non-profit academy in Ohio, as reported by ESPN FC's Maria Burns Ortiz, which unfortunately closed as a result of the global financial crisis. His willingness to work with talented youngsters in his native country no doubt impacted Tottenham's decision to extend this new deal to the goalkeeper.

His impact on the pitch might be minimal in 2014-15, but that's not why the club decided to continue with the 43-year-old. If Friedel can help grow Tottenham's brand on a global scale, this new agreement will be a win for all parties involved.  

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