Farrell set to turn 250 with Revs
Stalwart defender one of most celebrated in franchise history
Center back Andrew Farrell will enjoy a milestone moment when the New England Revolution engage FC Dallas tonight at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
The Revolution (7-1-2) are off to their best start in club history and will encounter the first of two opponents from the Western Conference this season. The Revolution will host the Colorado Rapids on Oct. 27.
Farrell, 29, will make his 250th MLS appearance, all with the Revolution, and will likely surpass 22,000 minutes with his 11th start of the season.
The Revolution’s “Ironman” is fourth on the alltime list for appearances (249), third in games started (246) and third with 21,942 accrued minutes on the pitch. Farrell, midfielder Carles Gil and keeper Matt Turner are the only Revolution members to play 900 minutes this season.
“It feels good and hopefully I get my name called this weekend and it would be awesome to get that,” said Farrell. “It’s a good milestone and I’ve been here awhile and I think it has been a testament to the coaches giving me opportunities. “Each coach that has been here and my teammates helping me out. Being able to grow my game and being able to compete with them. It feels good and hopefully there’s many more to come. Hopefully we can get a win this weekend.”
Farrell was the first player selected in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft after a stellar collegiate career with Louisville in the Big East Conference. Farrell was a firstteam All-American in 2012.
Jay Heaps was the Revolution’s head coach when Farrell arrived in Foxboro for the 2013 season. Heaps was a former Revolution midfielder and right back who helped transform Farrell into an MLS All-Star in 2016.
The Revolution floundered on Brad Friedel’s watch but evolved into an elite MLS program under sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena, who took over the team in May 2019. They went to the Eastern Conference final in 2020 before bowing 1-0 to the Columbus Crew, who went on to win the MLS Cup.
In an era of shifting allegiances, overseas opportunities and outright money grabs, Farrell is one of the rare breed of soccer athletes who play their entire professional career with one organization.
“Since I got drafted here, I love the area, the city and loved everybody who’s been in the organization,” said Farrell. “There’s never been someone I didn’t like and it feels like home and it’s been made possible by everyone in the club to be able to be here.
“Then there’s the coaches for helping me improve and my teammates. Every teammate I’ve had has made an impact on me whether it be good or bad, helping me out, challenging me and that made me more competitive.”
Farrell faces new challenges each day in practice from the Revs’ hotshot young center backs, second-year pro Henry Kessler and rookie Jon Bell.
Farrell has been a mentor to Kessler and Bell, who Arena has platooned on his flank this season. Kessler, the Revolution’s defensive player of the year as a rookie in 2020, has appeared in eight games with six starts and has logged 550 minutes. He also competed for the U.S. Men’s U-23 National team this spring.
Bell has played in five games with four starts and has logged 373 minutes. He scored his first MLS goal off a set piece in the Revs’ 3-2 victory over New York City FC on June 19.
“It definitely keeps me fresh when those guys go full-go at practice every day,” said Farrell. “They both bring their differences to the game and I think down the road, those guys are the future.”