Retirement apparently doesn’t suit Tim Howard.

The legendary U.S. goalkeeper is coming out of retirement five months after his last game with the Colorado Rapids to play in goal for Memphis 901 FC, the club announced Wednesday. Howard — who will turn 41 on Friday — will remain a minority owner of and sporting director for the USL Championship team.

"Since my retirement in October, my obsession for football has grown," Howard said in a statement. "The desire to win continues to drive me. I love to play, and I love to compete, this gives me the opportunity to do both.”

He also said his love for the city of Memphis was part of the reason he decided to resume his playing career.

“I’ve made a commitment to the city and people of Memphis to build a perennial playoff team. One whose goal continues to be lifting the Eastern Conference trophy and ultimately bringing the USL Cup to AutoZone Park,” he said.

SOCCER NEWS:Kickin' it in the 901: 901 FC finishes the preseason with a win. Here's what we've learned

He made 121 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team from 2002 to 2017 and started in goal during the 2010 and 2014 world cups. Howard holds the World Cup record for most saves in a match with 15 against Belgium in 2014.

Howard’s professional soccer career started before he graduated high school when he signed with the North Jersey Imperials in 1997. At that time, the Imperials were being coached by 901 FC head coach Tim Mulqueen, who had discovered Howard years earlier at a $25, one-time coaching session.

From there, Howard went on to play for the New Jersey MetroStars — now the New York Red Bulls — before he crossed the pond and signed with Manchester United in 2003. He was loaned out to Everton in 2006 and in 2007 made the move to the Merseyside club permanent. From 2007 to 2016, Howard made 329 appearances for the Premier League club, keeping more than 100 clean sheets — no goals allowed — during his time there.

He returned to the States in 2016 to play for the Rapids and at the beginning of the 2019 MLS season said it would be his last. He played his final game for the Rapids in October.

Almost immediately, he ramped up his front-office role in Memphis and was announced as 901 FC’s sporting director in January, after his MLS contract expired. Howard said the role was something he had long wanted.

“This is a day I dreamed would happen, but I didn’t know it would happen in Memphis,” he said.

Howard said the creation of a professional soccer team in Memphis, where he has had a residence for years, changed his retirement plans from being “in the carpool line with the kids and going about my day as dad” to staying involved in the game he has loved his entire life.

KICKIN' IT IN THE 901:Introducing your new home for Memphis soccer news

901 FC RIVALS:Birmingham fans are coming for Memphis. Step up, support your team

“I’m passionate about football. Everything I know and have in my life that is good is because of football,” he said. “I never wanted to retire and go too far away from the game. It was important that I gave back."

Howard has been in Liverpool in recent days and attended an Everton match at Goodison Park — according to his Instagram posts — but is expected to be in training with 901 FC this week.

Mulqueen said there will be clear lines between his different roles with the club.

“When he’s in the locker room as a player, he will act as a player. His focus is only going to be on winning," he said.

Principal owner Peter Freund said the announcement shouldn't surprise anyone "who understands the fire that still burns inside" Howard.

“As both an owner and our sporting director, Tim’s deep desire to win, driven by outworking the competition, is what has come to define 901 FC’s culture,” he said.

Howard will not be the only former Everton player putting on a 901 FC uniform this year. The club announced in February that it had signed midfielder Jose Baxter, who remains the youngest person to get an Everton first-team cap. Howard was playing in goal for the blues when Baxter made his first senior team appearance in 2008.

Wednesday’s signing brings Memphis 901 FC’s roster up to 20 men, including goalkeepers Jimmy Hague and Jim Barkei.

Memphis 901 FC will open the 2020 campaign at AutoZone Park on Saturday against the Indy Eleven. Single-game and season tickets are on sale.