After plying his trade for a pair of Western Conference rivals over the last season and a half, Benny Feilhaber is back.
Sporting acquired the veteran playmaker in a trade from the Colorado Rapid last week, sealed his return to a club for which he starred from 2013-2017.
As Feilhaber prepares for his first home appearance of the season on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park, there’s no better time to revisit 20 of his greatest moments in a Sporting Kansas City uniform.
Let’s jump into it chronologically. Part 1 is below, consisting of the first 10. Click here for Part 2, consisting of the last 10.
The first in Sporting blue (July 7, 2013)
It’s no secret that Feilhaber can strike a soccer ball. Exhibit A: his very first MLS goal for the club in a July 2013 win over the Fire.
Late Summer Stunner (Aug. 31, 2013)
Did we mention that Feilhaber knows how to strike a soccer ball?
Benny to Bieler (Nov. 6, 2013)
Feilhaber’s clutch gene was developed during Sporting’s run to the 2013 MLS Cup. In this play, he tees up Claudio Bieler for the series-winning assist in the Eastern Conference Semifinals at the expense of his former club, the New England Revolution.
Over the Hump (Nov. 23, 2013)
This impudent assist to Dom Dwyer vaulted Sporting into the MLS Cup final, where Real Salt Lake were awaiting in the most epic of postseason battles.
An MLS Cup Champion (Dec. 7, 2013)
Feilhaber reached new heights on the first Saturday of December in 2013, helping his side withstand arctic temperatures and outlast RSL in an unforgettable penalty shootout. Feilhaber went more than four years without missing a penalty for Sporting, and he made no mistake here when it mattered most.
Cracker in Columbus (July 16, 2014)
This thunderbolt went on to win the Sporting KC Goal of the Year award in 2014. Not hard to see why.
Ruling the Galaxy (July 19, 2014)
Sometimes all you can do is shrug. Three days after his magic in Columbus, Feilhaber bagged this delicious free kick to scalp the eventual MLS Cup champions in a memorable summer showdown at Children’s Mercy Park.
Texas Shootout (April 25, 2014)
Feilhaber was at his best in 2015, and a scintillating 4-4 draw against the Dynamo early that season merely foreshadowed what was to come. His 95th-minute equalizer was his second goal of the night and put the final touches on an instant classic.
High Impact (July 18, 2015)
By the heart of summer in 2015, Feilhaber had established himself as an MLS MVP candidate. His superb assist and well-taken goal propelled Sporting in this 2-1 win over Montreal.
Fresh off the Bench (July 24, 2015)
So much for settling into the game. Shortly after entering as a halftime substitute against rivals Real Salt Lake, Feilhaber buried an absolute peach from long distance that left goalkeeper Jeff Attinella no chance.
