Tim Howard could be U.S. Defense secretary, real Defense secretary says

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called Tim Howard on Wednesday and said the goalkeeper could someday have his job.

The U.S. soccer team’s World Cup run ended Tuesday in a 2-1 overtime loss to Belgium, but Howard had one of the best performances by a goalkeeper in World Cup history. Howard made 16 saves — many of them in spectacular fashion — to keep the U.S. from wilting under a withering Belgium attack that produced 38 shots, 27 of them on goal.

Howard’s 16 saves were the most recorded in a World Cup since FIFA began tracking them.

Hagel also congratulated Howard and invited the entire team to visit the Pentagon, the Defense Department said in a statement.

The Defense secretary’s overture to Howard was part of a nationwide outpouring of goodwill. A White House petition was started Tuesday night to rename the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after him, and Twitter has been overflowing with admiring memes.

Here is the full statement issued by the Pentagon:

“Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel called U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard to thank him for defending the United States of America at the World Cup. Secretary Hagel congratulated Howard on his record-breaking game and a great run in Brazil. He invited Howard and the entire team to come to the Pentagon later this year. He told Howard that with some training, he could someday become the real Secretary of Defense.”

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Times staff writer Kevin Baxter contributed to this report.