Michael Farfan
American soccer player (born 1988)
title: "Michael Farfan" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1988-births", "living-people", "american-men's-soccer-players", "american-expatriate-men's-soccer-players", "cal-state-fullerton-titans-men's-soccer-players", "north-carolina-tar-heels-men's-soccer-players", "orange-county-blue-star-players", "ventura-county-fusion-players", "la-laguna-fc-players", "ogden-outlaws-players", "philadelphia-union-players", "cruz-azul-footballers", "d.c.-united-players", "seattle-sounders-fc-players", "tacoma-defiance-players", "soccer-players-from-san-diego", "expatriate-men's-footballers-in-mexico", "usl-league-two-players", "major-league-soccer-all-stars", "major-league-soccer-players", "liga-mx-players", "usl-championship-players", "philadelphia-union-draft-picks", "soccer-players-from-chula-vista,-california", "united-states-men's-youth-international-soccer-players", "all-american-college-men's-soccer-players", "men's-association-football-midfielders"] description: "American soccer player (born 1988)" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Farfan" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American soccer player (born 1988) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox football biography"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Michael Farfán |
| image | Michael Farfan at Preseason Training for the Philadelphia Union, Jan 2011.jpg |
| image_size | 280px |
| caption | Farfan at 2011 preseason training with the Union |
| fullname | Michael Farfán Stopani |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | San Diego, California, United States |
| height | |
| position | Midfielder |
| youthyears1 | 2003–2005 |
| youthclubs1 | IMG Soccer Academy |
| collegeyears1 | 2006–2007 |
| college1 | Cal State Fullerton Titans |
| collegecaps1 | 35 |
| collegegoals1 | 8 |
| collegeyears2 | 2009–2010 |
| college2 | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| collegecaps2 | 41 |
| collegegoals2 | 10 |
| years1 | 2006 |
| clubs1 | Orange County Blue Star |
| caps1 | 1 |
| goals1 | 1 |
| years2 | 2007–2008 |
| clubs2 | Ventura County Fusion |
| caps2 | 21 |
| goals2 | 3 |
| years3 | 2009 |
| clubs3 | Los Angeles Legends |
| caps3 | 8 |
| goals3 | 3 |
| years4 | 2010 |
| clubs4 | Ogden Outlaws |
| caps4 | 4 |
| goals4 | 0 |
| years5 | 2011–2013 |
| clubs5 | Philadelphia Union |
| caps5 | 82 |
| goals5 | 4 |
| years6 | 2014 |
| clubs6 | Cruz Azul |
| caps6 | 1 |
| goals6 | 1 |
| years7 | 2015 |
| clubs7 | D.C. United |
| caps7 | 17 |
| goals7 | 0 |
| years8 | 2016 |
| clubs8 | Seattle Sounders FC |
| caps8 | 1 |
| goals8 | 0 |
| years9 | 2016 |
| clubs9 | → Seattle Sounders FC 2 (loan) |
| caps9 | 7 |
| goals9 | 0 |
| totalcaps | 142 |
| totalgoals | 12 |
| nationalyears1 | 2003–2005 |
| nationalteam1 | United States U17 |
| nationalcaps1 | 13 |
| nationalgoals1 | 0 |
| club-update | December 24, 2016 |
| nationalteam-update | January 17, 2011 |
| :: |
| name = Michael Farfán | image = Michael Farfan at Preseason Training for the Philadelphia Union, Jan 2011.jpg | image_size = 280px | caption = Farfan at 2011 preseason training with the Union | fullname = Michael Farfán Stopani | birth_date = | birth_place = San Diego, California, United States | height = | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2003–2005 | youthclubs1 = IMG Soccer Academy | collegeyears1 = 2006–2007 | college1 = Cal State Fullerton Titans | collegecaps1 = 35 | collegegoals1 = 8 | collegeyears2 = 2009–2010 | college2 = North Carolina Tar Heels | collegecaps2 = 41 | collegegoals2 = 10 | years1 = 2006 | clubs1 = Orange County Blue Star | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2007–2008 | clubs2 = Ventura County Fusion | caps2 = 21 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 2009 | clubs3 = Los Angeles Legends | caps3 = 8 | goals3 = 3 | years4 = 2010 | clubs4 = Ogden Outlaws | caps4 = 4 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2011–2013 | clubs5 = Philadelphia Union | caps5 = 82 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2014 | clubs6 = Cruz Azul | caps6 = 1 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2015 | clubs7 = D.C. United | caps7 = 17 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2016 | clubs8 = Seattle Sounders FC | caps8 = 1 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2016 | clubs9 = → Seattle Sounders FC 2 (loan) | caps9 = 7 | goals9 = 0 | totalcaps = 142 | totalgoals = 12 | nationalyears1 = 2003–2005 | nationalteam1 = United States U17 | nationalcaps1 = 13 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | medaltemplates = | club-update = December 24, 2016 | nationalteam-update = January 17, 2011
Michael Farfán Stopani (born June 23, 1988) is an American former professional soccer player.
Career
Youth and college
Played youth club soccer in Southern California where he captured numerous team titles, including the 2002 national championship. He also played in the Youth World Championships in Japan in 2000 representing a Mexican youth national team.{{Citation | last = | first= | title = Player Bio: Michael Farfan | publisher = California State University, Fullerton | date = | url = http://www.fullertontitans.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/farfan_michael00.html | access-date = January 17, 2011}}
Farfan played for Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California where he won All-CIF honors as an underclassman. He later played for Edison Academic Center in Bradenton, Florida while training for the United States U-17 team. As a member of the U-17 team, Farfan played in the 2005 Youth World Cup. After a two-year residency on the United States U-17 team, he enrolled at Fullerton State in the Spring of 2006.{{Citation | last = | first= | title = Michael Farfan | publisher = Major League Soccer | date = | url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/player/michael-farfan | access-date = January 17, 2011}}
Farfan enrolled in the University of North Carolina in January 2009. He scored five goals with the Tar Heels, with three coming in the first four games, and had four assists. While at North Carolina, he was named NSCAA First Team All-America and All-ACC First Team.{{Citation | last = | first= | title = Player Bio: Michael Farfan | work = CBS Sports | date = | url = http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/farfan_michael00.html | access-date = January 17, 2011}}
During his college years Farfan also played extensively in the USL Premier Development League, for Orange County Blue Star,{{cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2006/roster/22364.html |title=Orange County Blue Star, Premier Development League |year=2007 |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |access-date=January 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610135208/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2006/roster/22364.html |archive-date=June 10, 2011 Ventura County Fusion,{{cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2007/roster/6188518.html |title=Ventura County Fusion, Premier Development League |year=2008 |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |access-date=January 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517160109/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2007/roster/6188518.html |archive-date=May 17, 2008 |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/roster/6188518.html |title=Ventura County Fusion, Premier Development League |year=2009 |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |access-date=January 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819213847/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/roster/6188518.html |archive-date=August 19, 2014 the Los Angeles Legends,{{cite web |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/4069051.html#STATS |title=Los Angeles Legends, 2009 Statistics |year=2010 |publisher=United Soccer Leagues |access-date=January 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608155303/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/4069051.html |archive-date=June 8, 2009 and the Ogden Outlaws.{{cite web | url = http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/4069040.html#STATS | title = Ogden Outlaws, 2010 Statistics | year = 2010 | publisher = United Soccer Leagues | access-date = January 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110610071542/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/4069040.html#STATS | archive-date = June 10, 2011 | url-status = dead
Professional
On January 13, 2011, Farfan was drafted in the second round (23rd overall) in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the Philadelphia Union.{{Citation |title = Michael Farfan |publisher = Philadelphia Union |url = http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/player/michael-farfan |access-date = January 17, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110317152544/http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/player/michael-farfan |archive-date = March 17, 2011 |df = mdy-all | last = | first= | title = Philadelphia Union Select Zac Macmath, Michael Farfan and Levy Houapeu in 2011 MLS SuperDraft | publisher = oursportscentral.com | date = January 14, 2011 | url = http://oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4139996 | access-date = January 17, 2011}} He made his professional debut on April 6, 2011, in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game against D.C. United and scored his first professional goal – a 25-yard drive from outside the box – on May 21, 2011, in a 2–1 win over Chicago Fire. He was part of the MLS Team of Week 10 for this performance.
After three seasons in Philadelphia, Farfan was sold to Cruz Azul of Liga MX ahead of the 2014 Clasura. He scored in his debut with Cruz Azul against Pachuca. Farfan was released by Cruz Azul just 6-months into his 3-year deal.
Farfan was signed by D.C. United on February 10, 2015.
Farfan signed with Seattle Sounders FC on January 20, 2016.
On February 24, 2017, Farfan announced his retirement via Facebook.
Personal life
Michael's brother, Gabriel Farfán, was also a professional soccer player for before retiring in 2018.
Career statistics
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/DC_United_vs.Deportivo_Árabe_Unido(18).jpg" caption="Farfan with [[D.C. United" alt=""] ::
Club
::data[format=table title="Appearances and goals by club, season and competition"]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | North America | Total | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Total | 82 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 4 | Career total | 84 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Union | 2011 | Major League Soccer | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruz Azul | 2014 | Liga MX | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D.C. United | 2015 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Honors
Cruz Azul
Individual
References
References
- "Michael Farfan". [[United States Soccer Federation]].
- "DC down Union on PKs in USOC play-in round".
- "2011-05-21: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire {{!".
- "MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week: Week 10 {{!".
- "MLS clubs confirm permanent Cruz Azul moves for Michael Farfan, Rafael Baca; loan for Jose Villarreal {{!".
- "Cut by Cruz Azul, Michael Farfan resurfaces at Philadelphia Union training {{!}} Soccerly".
- "D.C. United acquires Michael Farfan {{!".
- "Sounders FC shores up midfield with addition of MLS veteran Michael Farfan | Seattle Sounders".
- (March 2022). "Michael Farfan on Facebook".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::