They were the two center pieces of a blockbuster preseason trade with central defender Tim Parker going to the New York Red Bulls and midfielder Felipe heading to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
On Saturday at BC Place, both players will get a chance to face their former team for the first time.
Parker, who was selected 13th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by the Whitecaps, is excited to make his return to Vancouver.
“They gave me the opportunity obviously to play professional soccer so it’s going to be nice to go back and see some old friends and old teammates,” Parker said.
The 25-year-old from Hicksville, L.I. has fond memories of his time in the Pacific Northwest, especially the 2015 Canadian Championship title.
“That’s a big moment for me because it’s the first trophy I won as a professional,” he said. “Then, I think just growing, not only as a person, but as a player as well in Vancouver. It was big for me to get out of New York at the time and I’m glad I did and glad I got to grow there.”
Parker also appreciated working with Carl Robinson, crediting the Vancouver coach for giving him opportunities early in his career.
“He gave me a lot of confidence, he believed in me, he gave me a lot of things that, as a young player, you kind of need,” Parker said. “And I think he trusted me and challenged me a lot. For him to give me all those opportunities and, as our relationship grew over the three years I was there, the trust became more and more and the respect became more and more and I think that’s the way I left it as well.”
Parker said he would have happy to stay with the Whitecaps for a “very long time,” but when contract talks broke down, he made his return home and he hasn’t looked back since. Parker has been a regular fixture in the Red Bulls starting XI, anchoring a backline alongside Aaron Long that has conceded the fewest goals in MLS.
He’s also earned his first caps with the U.S. national team, in friendlies against Ireland and France, and he’s gotten a chance to play in front of family and friends on a regular basis.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind the first couple of months,” Parker said. “The team is doing great, defense is doing great and it was an honor to get my first caps for the national team. Really I’m looking forward to the continued success with the team and I hope to continue to get caps.”
Parker has also added “temporary assistant coach” to his responsibilities this week as the Red Bulls prepare to face the Whitecaps.
“He knows the tendencies, he knows the movements, he knows where guys like to operate in terms of the attackers,” Red Bulls coach Chris Armas said. “We’ll have Tim speak to the defenders.”
Armas expects a similar conversation in Vancouver where Felipe is breaking down his former team’s tendencies and “how we can maybe be exposed.”
He’s also expecting the best out of the 27-year-old feisty midfielder come Saturday.
“Felipe is a competitor and first its where they sit in the standings that three points are huge,” Armas said. “I expect a mature, calm, calculated performance from him. He’s shown that in bigger games, he’s been one of the guys who has performed best.”