Benny Feilhaber is back at Sporting Kansas City, with the club announcing Tuesday that the longtime MLS and US men’s national team midfielder has joined their technical staff ahead of the 2021 season.
Feilhaber retired before the 2020 campaign, concluding a 15-year professional career that included stops in MLS, the German Bundesliga, English Premier League and Danish Superliga. He returned to MLS in 2011, scoring 41 goals and providing 60 assists in 262 matches with the New England Revolution, LAFC, Colorado Rapids and Sporting.
While playing under head coach and sporting director Peter Vermes in Kansas City, Feilhaber won MLS Cup 2013 and U.S. Open Cups in 2015 and 2017. He retired after one final stint with Sporting, having earned Best XI and All-Star honors with them in 2015. Feilhaber is one of four players in Sporting history – alongside Preki, Chris Klein and current defender Graham Zusi – with at least 30 goals and 50 assists for the club.
“To be back at Sporting Kansas City as part of the technical staff means everything to me,” Feilhaber said in a release. “This is the club where I experienced the most success as a player. Peter and the staff invested in me back in 2013 and I look forward to working with them once again.
“I’ve come to know a lot of great people here in Kansas City – fans, teammates, coaches and the ownership group – and this is a fantastic opportunity for me to give back to the city and the club. I’m very excited to get to work.”
Feilhaber worked as an assistant coach for UCLA this past season, returning to his collegiate alma mater. While the Pac-12 didn’t compete due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he oversaw training sessions throughout the fall.
Feilhaber, who’s close to attaining his B-License via the U.S. Soccer Coaching Education program, was originally born in Brazil. He earned 44 caps for the US men’s national team, highlighted by winning the 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup and competing at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
From 2019 until recently, Feilhaber has also co-hosted BSI: The Podcast alongside Minnesota United FC center back Ike Opara and former MLS midfielder Sal Zizzo. Their guests have ranged from MLS goal king Chris Wondolowski to Revolution head coach/sporting director Bruce Arena.
