When teachers would ask Brian Farber what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would always tell them that he wanted to be a professional soccer player.
“They would then follow up with, ‘What if that doesn’t work out?’ It was a puzzling question for me because I couldn’t figure out what they meant ‘not work out’. I was determined to play professionally.”
That dream began for Farber in his hometown of Sandpoint, Idaho, a small town near the Canadian border, nestled in between a mountain and ski resort. It was the perfect playground for an active kid who loved soccer, snowboarding and wakeboarding. He worked hard at all of them, but it was soccer that earned him a scholarship at Oregon State University. He describes that moment as one of the most rewarding in his soccer career.
“That was years of practice and dreaming of earning a scholarship, so my Mom didn’t have to pay for college. When I achieved it, I can remember telling her, ‘I told you.'”
He advises aspiring soccer players to listen to their coaches and other experienced players. He hammers home that it takes a lot of hard work to get to the professional level, so there is no room for excuses.
“It’s the players who think they don’t need help who fall short. You should always be learning.”
Off the field, Farber enjoys spending time with his wife, Kristy and their two kids, Arie and Beckham. He also supports causes that help children. Evan Mundine, a young Sockers fan who battles Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, especially touched his life.
“Having kids has changed my perspective on life, as well as knowing Evan and seeing him deal with so much pain over the years. I encourage everyone to support any cause that eliminates innocent kids suffering from pain.”
When he’s not playing or practicing for the Sockers, Farber is a busy making his mark in business. He created a private training academy where he specializes in helping players take their skills to the next level. He also manages the global soccer line for a company called SKLZ, creating skill and performance products for several sports. It’s what he’ll continue doing once he retires from the game.
“I think it’s safe to say I’ll be continuing to development innovative soccer products to help teach kids all over the world. I really enjoy creating products to teach the game I love so much. It’s my way of giving back to the sport and honoring it with a lifetime of hard work.”
But don’t look for Farber to retire any time soon. For now, he’ll keep playing the game he loves for the team his loves.
“I probably don’t have many games left in my career, so I cherish representing the Sockers each and every time I put on the crest.”
