Brek Shea

Dane Brekken "Brek" Shea (born February 28, 1990) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a left midfielder or left-back.

Shea began his career with Major League Soccer team FC Dallas after playing in the IMG Academy. He made his debut during the 2008 season and helped Dallas reach the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2010 and 2011. In January 2013, Shea joined English Premier League side Stoke City for a fee of £2.5 million. Shea failed to make an impact at Stoke and after spending time on loan at Barnsley and Birmingham City he joined Orlando City SC in December 2014. Shea was traded to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2017. Shea was signed by Atlanta United FC as a free agent for the 2019 season.

Early career
While in school in Texas, Shea won four consecutive state championships playing for the Texans SC youth soccer organization in Houston, Texas. He attended U.S. Soccer's youth residency program, and later went to train with Bolton Wanderers in England in October 2007.

FC Dallas
Shea did not play college soccer and instead turned professional straight out of high school. He was drafted 2nd overall by FC Dallas in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and he signed a Generation Adidas contract. He made his MLS debut for Dallas on April 20, 2008, as a substitute against Chivas USA in the 86th minute. Brek appeared in five of the team's six international friendlies and made eight starts with the reserve team before he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on September 19, 2008. Shea earned his first professional start on May 23, 2009, in a match versus the Los Angeles Galaxy. Shea spent his first two seasons with the club playing as a utility man, including spells as a striker, a central midfielder and as a defender. He eventually settled in at left winger during the 2010 MLS season. Shea scored his first professional goal on May 15 against the Philadelphia Union.

During the 2010 Season, Shea finished seventh on the team in minutes played (1,797) and made a career high 25 regular season appearances, ending the season with five goals and four assists, as well as having 2 assists in four playoff games. Shea graduated from the MLS Generation Adidas program at the end of the 2010 season. After playing left midfield during a Generation Adidas trip to Spain, Shea started the 2011 season at center-back, with manager Schellas Hyndman saying he found Shea's talents better used there.

During a match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC David Ferreira came down with an injury and much of his scoring role was passed onto Shea. Coach Schellas Hyndman soon started playing Shea midfield, and he blossomed into a top player of the 2011 MLS season. Shea was named to the MLS Team of Week 11, 14, and 16 in the 2011 MLS season for his performances against Seattle Sounders FC, Houston Dynamo, Chivas USA, and Columbus Crew. Following Ferreira's injury he led FC Dallas to 10 wins (the first team in the 2011 MLS season to do so) led the club in goals, and as a result he was named to the MLS All-Star Game as a midfielder. As part of the events surrounding the All-Star Game, Shea and New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 22. However, Shea was unable to play in the game due to a CONCACAF Champions League match. During a match against Sporting Kansas City Brek Shea helped Dallas rally back from 2–0 down to win 3–2, with two crosses in the final two minutes, to Maicon Santos and Bobby Warshaw respectively. Following the end of the 2011 MLS campaign, where Shea was an MVP nominee. On November 10, 2011, it was announced that Shea would spend a month of his offseason training under manager Arsène Wenger at Arsenal.

Shea would have a disappointing follow up to his successful 2011 campaign, only netting three goals in the 2012 FC Dallas season mired by injury problems. It was announced in November 2012 that Shea would be out an estimated three months following surgery for the removal of a bone in his right foot. In January 2013 Shea joined English side Stoke City on a week-long trial. However, he failed to arrive in England after negotiations between MLS and Stoke broke down. On January 28, MLS accepted an improved offer from Stoke.

Stoke City
Shea joined English Premier League club Stoke City on January 31, 2013, for a fee of £2.5 million on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut for Stoke against Fulham on February 23. After the match Shea said he was glad to be playing again after his injury but admitted he was disappointed with his performance. Shea made one more substitute appearance before manager Tony Pulis ruled him out for the remainder of the 2012–13 season because his foot operation had affected his fitness. After scoring the winning goal in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final, Shea joined up with the Stoke squad on their pre-season tour of the United States and played against the Philadelphia Union where he scored in a 2–0 victory. He also picked up a knee injury which saw him miss the start of the 2013–14 season.

Shea joined Championship club Barnsley on loan from Stoke on January 1, 2014, and made his debut against Birmingham City the same day. He played eight times for the Tykes before he was sent back to Stoke on March 10 after he was involved in a post-match confrontation, during which he made an offensive gesture towards Barnsley supporters, following a 5–0 defeat against Huddersfield Town.

Having played no competitive club soccer since returning to Stoke, Shea joined Championship club Birmingham City on September 11, 2014, on loan for three months. He went straight into the starting eleven for the next match, at home to Leeds United, and provided the pass from which Wes Thomas scored the opening goal. Shea lasted 67 minutes; the match finished 1–1. He played six times for Birmingham before returning to Stoke.

Orlando City
On December 19, 2014, Shea returned to the United States, joining Major League Soccer side Orlando City SC, an expansion team looking for a veteran presence to guide them in their first MLS season.

On Wednesday February 25, 2015, Shea scored his first goal with Orlando City against the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium in a preseason match with a header assisted by Kakà. The game ended after only 28 minutes of play because of inclement weather. Shea scored his first MLS goal with Orlando against the Portland Timbers on April 3, 2016, after a one-two play with Kaká, scoring a left-footed curler to the far post.

During his tenure with Orlando, Brek often found himself playing left back. Shortly before new head coach Jason Kreis took over, Shea made consecutive appearances as a winger, a position that utilized his speed and height and a position that he felt more comfortable in.

Vancouver Whitecaps
On February 27, 2017, Shea joined Vancouver Whitecaps FC in an exchange deal with Orlando for Giles Barnes. The start of Shea's 2017 campaign was met with nagging injuries and he didn't get his first start until a 2–0 loss to Toronto FC on March 18, 2017. On April 5, 2017, Shea scored in the third minute of the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal. Minutes later Shea would exit the game with a knee injury. Vancouver ended up conceding two late goals to fall 2–1 in Leg 2 and drop the series 4–1 on aggregate. Shea's injury kept him out of game action until April 5, 2017, where he was a second half substitution against Colorado Rapids. It was this game that Shea scored his first goal as a Whitecap. Shea's goal turned out to be the eventual game winner. He followed that performance by scoring another goal as a late game sub, in a 2–1 loss to Houston Dynamo.

Shea was released by Vancouver at the end of their 2018 season.

Atlanta United
Shea signed with Atlanta United FC ahead of the 2019 season.

Inter Miami
Shea initially trained and rehabilitated from injury with Miami's USL League One team Fort Lauderdale CF, however, on June 25, 2020, he signed with Inter Miami CF. Shea scored his first goal for the side—a tying goal, in the 65th minute—on September 12 in a 2–1 loss against Orlando City. He was out of contract at the end of the 2021 season.

On May 4, 2023, Shea announced his retirement from professional soccer alongside former teammate Geoff Cameron. The duo plan to participate in The Soccer Tournament, a pro–am seven-a-side tournament.

International career
Shea was a member of the United States residency program in Bradenton, Florida, and played extensively for the Under-17 team during that time. He later moved on to the Under-20 national team, whom he has represented most recently at the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. He received his first call-up to the senior national team at the age of eighteen, when he was called in late for a second round World Cup qualifier on June 18, 2008, at Barbados.

In September 2010, he was called up for an October friendly against Colombia. Shea earned his first international cap playing the first half of the 0–0 draw and in the process became the first player born in the 1990s to make an appearance for the full United States national team.

Shea received his third call-up and his second cap when he joined Eric Alexander, Zach Loyd, and Ugo Ihemelu, making FC Dallas the most-represented MLS team at the January 2011 United States national team camp. Shea started the January 22, 2011 match against Chile, playing 60 minutes.

Under new United States national team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, Shea was named as one of seven midfielders for a friendly match against Mexico on August 10, 2011, in Philadelphia. In the 60th minute, Shea came on as a substitute for Jermaine Jones and recorded his first international assist on the equalizing goal from Robbie Rogers.

After a six-month rough patch during his 2012 campaign, Shea made his return to the United States national team for a friendly against Mexico on August 15, 2012. Shea came on in the 78th minute as a substitute for Herculez Gomez. On July 16, 2013, Shea scored his first goal against Costa Rica in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, a low left footed shot to the corner of the net. It proved to be the winning goal, as the United States won 1–0. Shea then scored the winning goal in the final as the United States beat Panama 1–0.

International goals

 * Scores and results list the United States's goal tally first.


 * 1. || July 16, 2013 || Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States || || 1–0 || 1–0 || 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup ||
 * 2. || July 28, 2013 || Soldier Field, Chicago, United States || 🇵🇦 panama || 1–0 || 1–0 || 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final ||
 * 3. || January 28, 2015 || Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua, Chile || || 1–0 || 2–3 || rowspan="2" |Friendly ||
 * 4. || March 31, 2015 || Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland || || 1–0 || 1–1 ||
 * }
 * 3. || January 28, 2015 || Estadio El Teniente, Rancagua, Chile || || 1–0 || 2–3 || rowspan="2" |Friendly ||
 * 4. || March 31, 2015 || Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland || || 1–0 || 1–1 ||
 * }
 * }

Personal life
Shea was born in College Station, Texas, the third son of Charles and Kirsten. He also has two younger sisters. Shea attended Brazos Christian School and the freshman year at Bryan High School in Bryan, Texas. He then moved to the U.S. Residency in Bradenton, Florida, where he graduated from Edison Academy.

During Shea's personal time he often paints. In 2011, ten of his abstract paintings raised nearly $10,000 at auction in Plano, Texas, in aid of the FC Dallas Foundation's support program for disadvantaged young people.

On September 23, 2015, Shea's long-time girlfriend, Carling, gave birth to their daughter, Phoenix Shea.

Honors
United States
 * CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2013

Individual
 * MLS All-Star: 2011
 * MLS Best XI: 2011