YEAR IN REVIEW: Felipe

For the third straight season with the New York Red Bulls, midfielder Felipe found himself at the heart of the Red Bulls’ midfield week in and week out.

This season, Felipe started 33 out of the Red Bulls 34 MLS regular season matches.

The midfielder has started 100 games for the Red Bulls in MLS regular season play, featuring in all but two contests since arriving from the Montreal Impact in 2015.

“I already started training for next year,” Felipe joked when asked if he is tired after playing so many minutes this season. “Yes, not physically but trying to take some time mentally, but at the same time I am already thinking about yoga to stretch my muscles that are tense from all the work from this season and at the same time strengthening your body for the next long year.

“I think of myself as a ‘wine.’ I feel like a ‘wine.’ That has been something of a goal my whole life that each year that even though I may be getting a year older I am getting better.”

This season, the 27-year-old scored two goals and earned five assists during MLS regular season play, which tied him for second in team assists with defender Kemar Lawrence.

Felipe played in a career-high 2,961 minutes this season, more than any other Red Bulls outfield player.

“As you grow and move forward that [recharging] needs to be a thought, because you get smarter, you get stronger mentally, and you can get fitter and better in every aspect of your game and your life. I also need to get fitter for the second child that I am expecting.”