D.C. United: Bill Hamid return humbling but helpful

Bill Hamid, after just six months, is set to return to D.C. United. It is a humbling process, a seemingly backwards step, but it could yet be a huge help to his career.

After roughly seven months with Danish side Midtylland, it was announced that Bill Hamid will be returning to his hometown club D.C. United on loan through to the end of the 2019 season.

The American Goalkeeper made only four first-team appearances for Midtylland during his tenure with the club. The move has to be a questionable one at this point.

It was clear that Hamid wanted to try out his talents on the other side of the pond, but the decision to go to the Danish league was one that raised questions right off the bat, and one can’t help but feel now that Hamid should’ve stayed in MLS and waited for offers from a bigger club in say, the Premier League.

More from MLS Multiplex

• Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
• Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
• USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
• De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
• Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States

So what’s presented to Hamid now? Well, a brand new challenge that he has not seen yet in his career. Initially, you would think that Hamid will be returning to United ready to resume his role as a full-time starter just as he left. But that won’t necessarily be the case. Nor should it be the case. He’ll have to compete for playtime against an established David Ousted and an experience Steve Clark.

United fans will no doubt want to see their hometown hero back in net as soon as possible, but the reality is that it will take some time — he’ll have to earn his way back into a starting role. The reality is that playing time may be tough for Hamid to come by at present. Whether or not this results in a move to another MLS club is difficult to say, but this offseason could mean him moving for somewhere where he’ll be a starter.

It’s a bit of a humbling moment in the career of Hamid that has only been solely on an upward trajectory until recent months. This is is his first step back after many leaps forward. He took a risk. He went to Europe. It didn’t pan out. He’s not the first American that this has happened to and he won’t be the last.

What will be interesting to see now is whether or not Hamid is impacted by this — my gut tells me he won’t be. It’s the first hiccup in what has been a Cinderella story of a career so far. 

Indeed, this might actually be the best thing that could’ve happened for Bill at this point in his career. Up until now, he’s been nothing but the poster boy of his hometown club, and even when D.C. United struggled, he’s always shined. Having to face some adversity and doubts will only benefit him in the long run, if he can overcome them, that is.

What will this adversity mean for Hamid? For USMNT fans, it will hopefully mean him hopping back on track to be the next number one for the United States. After all, that is where he was headed before his move to Denmark. He has the talent and experience to take over after Brad Guzan’s time as number one for the U.S. is over, but he also has the likes of a Zack Steffen or Sean Johnson to compete against for the role as the next generation’s number one keeper.

Regardless of what happens to Hamid with this move back to the nation’s capital, keep an eye on him. He is still one of the country’s most talented keepers. This humbling return may seem like a step in the wrong direction, but it could be a key, helping cornerstone in what turns into a glittering career.