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USL Louisville City FC

New Signing Lefebvre Completes An Extended Journey to Louisville

March 22, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Louisville City FC News Release


Louisville City FC goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre
Louisville City FC goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre
(Louisville City FC, Credit: Haley Simpson/LouCity Communications)

For the first month and a half of Louisville City FC's preseason, Simon Lefebvre had to participate from afar.

Stuck across the Atlantic Ocean, almost 4,300 miles away from the club's training ground, the goalkeeper continued to deal with the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic from home in Tarbes, France.

"I was trying to do my best to at least be physically ready when I came back, which I think I am," said Lefebvre, who was awaiting proper approvals to travel to the United States. "But I still need a few days to get used to the training and to the ball again because I haven't played for three months now."

Lefebvre finally joined the boys in purple for training last week, and he's with the team on its Texas preseason swing to play Major League Soccer's Austin FC and Houston Dynamo in the coming days. But that was only after some local efforts to get him overseas.

LouCity's technical director and assistant coach, Danny Cruz, alongside of midfielder/team administrator George Davis IV, had to check all the right boxes. First, it was about securing Lefebvre's work visa. Then the club had to receive permission from the U.S. Border Patrol for his travel.

The process took about two months before Lefebvre landed in Louisville.

"And usually it takes like two weeks," Lefebvre said. "The club did everything. They helped me. I've been talking with George and Danny to make this faster."

Lefebvre is familiar with the France-to-U.S. journey having played collegiately for Temple University. MLS' D.C. United also selected him 21st overall in the 2020 SuperDraft, and Lefebvre played for the club's USL Championship affiliate, Loudoun United, as a rookie.

Having returned home in the offseason, Lefebvre was met with the challenges of staying in peak shape while negotiating his LouCity signing announced in early January.

"I was working out, running, and anytime I could touch the ball I was doing it with friends," said the 6-foot-9 keeper. "But it was hard to play soccer because in France, not many teams can play because of the curfew. I was doing my best to work out and touch the ball.

"Everything is closed. The gyms are closed. The restaurants are closed, everything. People just go to work and have to be home before 6 p.m."

Having entered training with LouCity, Lefebvre has inserted himself into a three-way battle for playing time between the posts. Louisville native Chris Hubbard, in his fourth pro season, sizes up as the favorite, while goalkeeper Parker Siegfried added his name to the list by earning a contract out of a recent trial.

Lefebvre, happy to play the game he loves again, made it a point to fist bump his new teammates last week when getting back on the pitch.

"It's great to be back on the field," Lefebvre said. "I just can't wait to train, to play games, for the season to start."

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Images from this story

Louisville City FC goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre
Louisville City FC goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre
(Haley Simpson/LouCity Communications)		   



United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 22, 2021


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