Brazilian-born but representing the United States internationally, Benny Feilhaber had a fifteen year career playing for clubs in Europe and the United States. With the USMNT, he earned 44 caps and lifted a Gold Cup trophy after scoring the winning goal against Mexico in 2007.
Primarily a central midfielder, he spent a single year for the UCLA Bruins before moving to Hamburger SV in 2005, where he played for two years on both their second and first teams. He played for Derby County (EFL Championship), AGF Aarhus (Danish league), and then moved to the MLS. In the next nine years he played for New England Revolution, LAFC, Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City. His tenure at SKC lasted seven seasons and he earned 34g/38a.
After Retirement
He began coaching in 2020, starting with his alma mater. He then joined the Kansas City coaching staff where he became the head coach for the SKC II academy team through November 2024 over 81 games. In June 2025 he took over the USL Championship team Oakland Roots midway through the season. Though he revamped the team and got them to play a more exciting attacking style, they failed to qualify for the playoffs and he was released in early November.
Earlier in 2025, Feilhaber and a handful of other retired MLS and USMNT players joined the USL-2 Des Moines Menace for their U.S. Open Cup run. Their opening game was against his old team, SKC II, which they won. In their second game against Union Omaha he drew a penalty and scored. Des Moines lost the match 2 – 1. This makes Feilhaber the only USL (or MLS for that matter) manager to have scored a goal in the same year he coached.
Feilhaber is Jewish on his father’s side, his family having emigrated out of Austria to Brazil prior to WWII.
About This Article Series
Hanukkah, the festival of lights, is celebrated over eight days and nights by followers of Judaism across the world. It commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the success of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.
The holiday’s close proximity to Christmas has made it a mainstay within the United States and other western regions, even though its religious importance is somewhat minor. In observance of Hanukkah, Hooligan Soccer will present eight shining soccer players associated with the Jewish faith.
Night 2: Eran Zahavi
Night 3: David “Dudu” Aouate
Night 4: Tai Baribo
Night 5: Oscar Gloukh
Night 6: Ronny Rosenthal
Night 7: Jeff Agoos
Josep Packsten grew up in the Netherlands but is a long-term resident of northern California. He has been a certified referee for 15+ years, but a soccer fan for much, much longer.
