FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Four years ago when Andrew Farrell left the University of Louisville and embarked upon a career in professional soccer, he put together a list of goals.
It was an exercise designed to keep him moving forward, always pushing toward specific objectives, while at the same time reminding him what he values most in life. Some of the goals were personal, some professional. At the top of the list was remaining close to his family, which Farrell has always done.
Among his top five goals, however, Farrell had one very specific professional objective: he wanted to one day earn a place on the Major League Soccer All-Star team.
As of Sunday afternoon, Farrell can cross that goal off the list.
Chosen by San Jose Earthquakes and 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star head coach Dominic Kinnear, Farrell was officially named to the game-day roster to face legendary English club Arsenal FC on Thursday, July 28 at Avaya Stadium.
“I’m really thankful,” Farrell said after helping the Revolution keep a clean sheet against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. “I think there are a lot of guys on the team who are really deserving, and I’m really thankful that my name was called. I’m going to hopefully represent the organization as well as I can.”
This is the second straight year a New England Revolution defender has been named to the All-Star squad after Chris Tierney was named to the 2015 team before withdrawing because of injury. Should Farrell feature in the match he’d be the first Revs player to do so since Shalrie Joseph in 2011.
Farrell, who has settled back into a spot on the right side of New England’s defense in recent weeks, is looking forward to both playing alongside some of MLS’ best, and against a stacked Arsenal squad that will be in the midst of final preparations ahead of the Premier League season.
“I’m a huge Arsenal fan, so that’ll be really exciting,” Farrell said. “I’m looking forward to enjoying the week, meeting all the other guys who’ve been selected, enjoying San Jose and representing the New England Revolution well.”
While his selection to the All-Star team means Farrell can cross one of his goals off the list, it by no means signifies an end. Instead, the 24-year-old former No. 1 overall pick is hoping this will be just another step in his professional journey.
“A lot of the work I’ve put in, I guess it’s kind of paid off,” Farrell said. “But it’s still just another stepping stone to where I want to get.
“I want to represent the club well, and all the guys who’ve helped me get to where I’ve been, and all the coaches, my parents. It’s a really great feeling and I’m happy that it happened.”
