Press Release: Revolution Acquires World Cup Veteran Benny Feilhaber

If you're like me, you're thinking that a press release (and media conference call to follow) indicates that the Revs are dead-set on keeping Benny in Boston. I've already hashed out why this is a good idea in my previous post, so I thought I'd share the press release with all of you as confirmation.

Official New England Revolution Press Release

Revolution acquires World Cup veteran Benny Feilhaber

Revs pick up Brazilian-born midfielder through Allocation Process

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution has added U.S. National Team midfielder and 2010 FIFA World Cup veteran Benny Feilhaber to the roster through Major League Soccer’s Allocation Process. He is expected to join the Revolution at training on Friday, April 19.

Feilhaber, 26, who has played the last two seasons for Denmark’s AGF Aarhus, signed with MLS on April 15, and as a returning U.S. National Team player, was available to teams through the allocation order. The Revolution was ranked third in the current order – based on a recent performance – behind Chivas USA and the Philadelphia Union. Both teams passed, leading the way for the Revolution to select Feilhaber.

"We’re very pleased that Benny was available to us through the Allocation Process," Vice President of Player Personnel Michael Burns said. "Benny is a talented, versatile player who instantly will make our team better. We’re looking forward to getting him into a Revolution uniform as soon as possible."

Feilhaber began his professional career in Germany with Hamburger’s reserve team in 2005 following a stand-out, two-year performance at UCLA and a call-up to the U.S. Under-20 National Team for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Feilhaber debuted with Hamburger’s first team in 2006, where he went on to make nine appearances before signing with Derby County, which had just won promotion to the English Premier League, in 2007.

Feilhaber made 10 appearances for Derby before the club was relegated at the end of the season and he signed with AGF Aarhus on a free transfer in August 2008. With AGF Aarhus, Feilhaber made 54 appearances in two-and-a-half seasons, scoring five goals, before signing with MLS last week.

Feilhaber has 38 appearances with the U.S. National Team and was a member of the U.S.’ 2010 FIFA World Cup squad and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. He has scored two goals for the national team, including the game-winning goal in the final of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Mexico in Chicago. Feilhaber made three appearances in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup, and three appearances at the 2008 Olympics. He is also a former member of the U.S. Under-20 squad.

Feilhaber was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and moved to the United States when he was six years old.

For up-to-the-minute information on the Revolution, visit the team’s official web site at revolutionsoccer.net, or follow the team on Twitter at @NERevolution, or on Facebook at facebook.com/NERevolution.

For ticket information, including full-season packages, multi-game plans and options for the July 13 match against English titan Manchester United, call 1-877-GET-REVS or visit revolutionsoccer.net.

TRANSACTION: New England Revolution (MLS) – Acquired M Benny Feilhaber through the Allocation Process

BENNY FEILHABER
Pronunciation: FAIL-hob-ber
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150 lbs.
DOB: January 19, 1985 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Hometown: Irvine, Calif.
Previous Club: AGF Aarhus (DEN)
College: UCLA
Youth Club: Irvine Strikers
Nationality: U.S.
Status: Senior Roster
Jersey Number: 22