Feilhaber Dealt to KC
- Updated: December 11, 2012
The New England Revolution traded midfielder Benny Feilhaber to Sporting Kansas City in exchange for allocation money and a pair of drafts picks on Tuesday.
Feilhaber, who had his contract option declined last month, is headed to the Eastern Conference powerhouse after two seasons in New England.
In return, the Revolution obtains Sporting KC’s natural first-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and its natural second-round pick in the 2015 SuperDraft, in addition to an undisclosed amount of allocation money.
“We’ve been working on several options with Benny for a few months and we feel this trade with Kansas City is the most beneficial outcome for the Revs,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said in a statement on Tuesday. “This move allows us greater roster flexibility in both 2013 and beyond.”
Feilhaber was originally acquired by the Revolution in April 2011 via the allocation draft after playing the entirety of his professional career in Europe with Hamburg (Germany’s Bundesliga), Derby County (England’s Premier League) and AGF Aarhus (Denmark’s SuperLiga).
“I am really excited to come to Sporting Kansas City,” Feilhaber said in a statement on Tuesday. “It is a top-class organization and team in Major League Soccer. My goal is to help the team however I can. I cannot wait to play in the best stadium in the League and in front of a great fan base. I am already hyped for the first home game.”
The 27-year-old midfielder played in 52 games for New England from 2011-2012. He scored five goals and nine assists during his time with the club, his best season being his first (4 goals, 7 assists). Coincidentally, he made his Revolution debut against Sporting KC on Ap. 23, 2011, and racked up his first MLS assist in the process.
But after a quiet 2012 campaign (1 goal, 2 assists), the club appeared to be uneasy with idea of carrying Feilhaber’s hefty annual contract ($440K) into 2013. That, coupled with the offseason signings of midfielders Andy Dorman and Kalifa Cisse, all but spelled the end of Feilhaber’s time in Foxboro.
Despite Feilhaber’s recent struggles, Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes believes that a change in scenery might be the key to unlocking the potential that the former U.S. National Team regular (39 caps) never seemed to reach during the last two seasons.
“Benny is an excellent two-way, box-to-box midfielder who has tremendous ability, especially with the final pass,” Vermes said in a statement on Tuesday. “His experience with the US National Team programs and playing overseas will serve him well in our system.”
9 Comments
Leave a Reply
About Brian O'Connell
brian
December 11, 2012 at 5:45 pm
This is a great fit for Benny! Natural surface, talent and a great fan base will guarantee his success. Any bets that he becomes best xi caliber midfielder there? All the best for success hope to see him back to the usmnt soon.
Mat
December 12, 2012 at 9:01 am
Brian, you said exactly what I have been thinking. Benny, while I wish it could have worked out here (not with a rebuilding team), will be a star in KC. He’s going to have Zusi and Sapong and Kamara and the list goes on..and yeah I think I know who I’m picking up in fantasy mls next year.
We got a crappy trade but Benny had a crappy year and so it goes. Good luck Benny and hopefully those draft picks turn into something (though I’m doubtful).
Jim
December 11, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Normally I like that you guys provide factual opinion-free information & news about the Revs, but I’d love to hear all y’all’s opinion on this deal. (Which is why you need an NESoccertoday podcast 🙂 )
there’s so much to be said about this trade. I think Benny will fit right in. He’ll be an excellent KC addition & could put them over the hump, making them a legit title contender. This, however, will guarantee the received draft picks to be dismally low. … Fair value? For Rev Benny, yes, but for national team and future KC Benny this is a steal.
This move is another step in the right direction for the slow-to-rebuild revs. Continuing to clear out the mistakes of the FO and coaching staff from the pre-Heaps era. Not to say that Snagging Benny was a bad idea initially, he just couldn’t be the type of player he wanted to be in the Revs zero-skill roster over the past 2 years.
W Peter Jones
December 11, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Benny was over rated and over paid?? Jim you are saying that Benny is going to do well for KC But in is resume he has played for a lot soccer teams why has he moved around so much? A ROLLING STONE GATTHERS NO MOSS I think Benny will be a dud @ KC as well
Revs GO Revs
December 12, 2012 at 7:58 am
Another great move by the F.O.! NOT!
Honestly, there is no one with any creative skills on this team anymore. No leadership nothing. Thinking that Cisse and Dorman can make an impact is just hilarious.
That team is a total joke. Be ready for the long ball in 2013.
I think as long as Burns and Billelo only worry about selling Biebergundez shirts to tween and teenage girls and their mothers as they make they only visit to the empty cave during Youth Soccer Club night, we are cursed to be watching other.teams and us compete for the wooden spoon.
PS: Thanks for not being the official propaganda outlet that the others supporter sites.
rick sewall
December 12, 2012 at 9:38 am
Benny may or may not find an ideal playing situation for him at Kansas City. I’d say it is about 50-50. Vermes may know of Benny’s problems and may be able to solve them. Who knows? time will tell. I am, however, suspicious of players who change teams frequently.
W Peter Jones
December 12, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Lets hope the Revs use there DRAFT PICKS and obtain some decent talent
W Peter Jones
December 12, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Revs GO Revs To build a soccer team it takes time Soccer Players have to gell together Benny was no supper star Look @ QPR all the players they have bought in the past year and they still have not won a game I have been a Revs supporter from day one it took a lot of years till the Revs won some hardware and have a decent coach Lets see what happens in 2013 if there is any improvements The Revs are still the cheapest ticket in town to watch a live game
Robert
December 12, 2012 at 9:40 pm
Crap! Although I would’ve liked to see Benny flourish with us, I suppose a change was needed for both parties. I just hoped that Burns would have traded him to a Western Conference team. How many times will Benny haunt us this year? I’m curious to know what other trade offers were out there. I hope Brian and Kevin can dig and find out. Wrongfully, I had predicted a trade to Vancouver, but I think he will fit-in great with Sporting since he doesn’t have to be the “franchise” player. This trade should make KC the favorites to represent the Eastern Conf. in the Finals.