Five-time MLS Cup winner and winningest coach in U.S. Men's National Team history to oversee club's soccer operations;
Revolution’s eighth head coach to be introduced in press conference at Gillette Stadium on Thursday
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have appointed Bruce Arena the club's sporting director and head coach. Arena, the winningest coach in United States Men's National Team history and a five-time MLS Cup champion, brings more than four decades of coaching experience at the international and domestic levels to the Revolution.
“Bruce is one of the most successful coaches in American soccer history, and we feel his commitment to excellence, track record of winning championships in Major League Soccer, as well as his success at the international level, makes him the best person to bring the Revolution back to MLS Cup contention," Revolution Investor/Operator Robert Kraft said. "We have known Bruce dating back to the advent of MLS, and we have full confidence that he will raise the level of our club to the standard we all expect and demand.”
Arena, 67, will immediately assume all responsibilities as sporting director, and the Revolution's current technical staff will remain in place as an exact start date for Arena’s duties as the club’s eighth head coach is determined. Arena will be introduced to the media in a press conference, streamed live on Revolutionsoccer.net, alongside Revolution President Brian Bilello in the Gillette Stadium media workroom on Thursday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
“It was evident when talking with Bruce that we share a vision for the future of the Revolution and we look forward to having him oversee our soccer organization,” Revolution President Brian Bilello said. “We believe that now is the time for a change in leadership and there is no one better suited to usher in a new era of success in New England.”
The Long Island, N.Y. native joins the Revolution following one of the most decorated coaching careers in American soccer history. Arena’s resume includes a record five MLS Cup titles, three MLS Supporters’ Shields, seven MLS conference championships, one U.S. Open Cup title, and one Concacaf Champions' Cup. In his previous 14 seasons as an MLS coach, Arena earned three MLS Coach of the Year selections, first in 1997 with D.C. United before being honored in 2009 and 2011 with the LA Galaxy. At the collegiate level with the University of Virginia (1978-95), he also tallied five NCAA College Cup wins with six ACC Men's Soccer championships.
“In my conversations with the Kraft family and Brian Bilello, it’s clear that they have high expectations for the club and I believe there is a tremendous opportunity for me to create a winning culture throughout the Revolution organization,” said Bruce Arena. “Boston is a great sports town with a history of championship teams, and I am looking forward to working with the staff and players to make the Revolution a club that our supporters can be proud of and that can be part of the tradition of success in New England.”
Arena, who served as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team from 1998-2006 and 2016-17, holds the record for most wins by a USMNT head coach with 81. He led the United States to a Quarterfinal finish in the 2002 FIFA Men’s World Cup – the country's best showing since 1930 – as well an appearance in the 2006 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Arena also coached the U.S. Men's National Team to more Gold Cup titles than any other coach, having captured the continental trophy in 2002, 2005, and 2017.
Arena becomes the winningest active coach in MLS history upon his return to the sideline. He accrued a 202-121-89 record across 14 seasons with D.C. United (1996-98), New York Red Bulls (2006-07), and LA Galaxy (2008-16). His five MLS Cup wins with D.C. United (1996, 1997) and LA Galaxy (2011, 2012, 2014) are the most by a head coach in league history, while his three Supporters Shields are tied with Sigi Schmid for the most all-time.
After a storied coaching career at the University of Virginia, where he led the Cavaliers to five national championships over 18 seasons, Arena became the head coach of D.C. United ahead of Major League Soccer's inaugural season in 1996. He led D.C. to the league’s first two MLS Cup titles in 1996 and 1997, and led the club to a third straight appearance in the Final in 1998. Following his first stint as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team, Arena returned to MLS as head coach of the New York Red Bulls. He spent one-and-a-half seasons with New York before accepting the LA Galaxy's head coaching position in 2008. Arena helped usher in a dynastic era for the Galaxy, capturing three MLS Cups and two Supporters’ Shields across a three-year period from 2011-14.
Most recently, Arena completed his second stint as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team from 2016-17. He led the team to a 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup title and recorded only two losses across 18 games at the helm. Arena, who was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010, was named the 2015 Werner Fricker Builder Award recipient, the United States Soccer Federation's highest honor.
Bruce Arena at a Glance:
- Named the Revolution’s sporting director and the club’s eighth head coach on May 14, 2019.
- Holds a record five MLS Cup titles (1996, 1997, 2011, 2012, 2014) and has amassed three MLS Supporters’ Shields (1996, 2010, 2011), tied for the most all time.
- Currently the winningest active head coach in MLS and one of two coaches to reach 200 regular season MLS wins, holding a 202-121-89 record in MLS.
- Managed the U.S. Men’s National Team during two separate stints (1998-2006, 2016-17), appearing in both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and winning three Gold Cup titles.
- Built a dynasty over 18 seasons as head coach at the University of Virginia, winning five NCAA Division-1 National Championships and six ACC titles.
- Coached the New York Red Bulls from 2006-07, before serving as the LA Galaxy head coach from 2008-16, where he won three MLS Cups in 2011, 2012, and 2014.
