Brek Shea

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…

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…

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.