Arena named MLS Coach of Year
Bench boss led Revs to first Supporters’ Shield
New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena has evolved as a club manager but his model for success has been consistent.
Arena was named the Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year on Monday, joining Steve Nicol (2002) as the second Revolution club manager to receive the award.
Arena got the news while preparing the Revolution (22-5-7) for tonight’s MLS Cup Eastern Conference semifinal match against New York City FC (1411-9) at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution captured the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular season record and were awarded a first-round bye in the playoffs.
“Am I different than I was in my early years, for sure no question about it,” said Arena. “We learn something every day in this profession and I think the game has changed and the atmosphere around teams has changed.
“There are a lot of issues inside and outside of teams which you have to appreciate in this day and age. Thirty years ago, I knew everything and today I realize I don’t so that is a big change for sure.
“But I have changed. I think I’m a little bit more patient than I was in the past and I have enjoyed coaching every bit of the way. It has been a great experience for me.”
Arena joins Bob Bradley as the second club manager to win the Coach of the Year Award with three different clubs. He captured it with D.C. United in 1997 and twice with the LA Galaxy, in 2009 and 2011. Arena and Schmid share the MLS record with 240 regular season wins but he is all alone with 275 combined regular and post season victories.
Arena is a five-time MLS champion with 35 playoff wins and is looking to secure the first MLS Cup title in Revolution history. Arena guided the Revolution to MLS single-season re
cords for points (73) and goals per game (2.14) while equaling the record for wins (22) in the post shootout era.
“We are going to find out (Tuesday) what all this work has meant,” said Arena. “That’s the true test.”
Captain my captain
Revolution rainmaker Carles Gil will be wearing the captain’s arm band with unquestioned authority against NYCFC and bear all the responsibilities that come with the role.
“I think having that type of pressure is good for me and the team,” said Gil.
Arena is not the only Revolution team member to receive individual accolades. Gil, who missed most of the 2020 season with a foot injury, was named MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
Gil led MLS in seven significant offensive categories including assists (18) and chances created
(130) and is the front-runner for the Landon Donovan MVP award. The Revolution are 10-2-4 when Gil scores a goal, 22- 0-7 when he records an assist and 5- 0-1 when he has a goal and an assist. Keeper Matt Turner was the recipient of the Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Gotham after dark
The tale of the tape between New England and NYCFC reveals how statistically similar the two teams are despite the Revolution finishing with 22 more points.
The Revolution did have eight more wins, but 18 of New England’s 22 victories were by one goal. New England finished with a 65-56 advantage in goals scored, but NYCFC was better with 36 goals allowed to 41 by the Revs. NYCFC enjoyed advantages over the Revs in shots (516-495) and shots on goal (188-181) and showed its venomous mean streak in fouls committed (506384), yellow cards (72-53) and red cards (8-3).
“New York City is a team that attacks, has good players, a good mentality and scheme and they
are well coached,” said Arena. “They defend well as a team. They have defended collectively better over the last month and they have experienced center backs.”
NYCFC also possess striker Valentin Castellanos, the 2021 MLS Golden Boot award winner with 19 goals in the regular season and one in the playoffs. Castellanos was second in MLS in combined goals and assists with 27. Castellanos personified NYCFC’S mean streak with nine yellow cards and 83 fouls committed.
“He is difficult to play against and he has simply been outstanding on a very good team,” said Arena. “He is certainly the key player in their attack but there are certainly other good players.
“He can score goals in a variety of ways out of set pieces and on running plays. His movement in the penalty area is excellent.”
The Revolution’s Gustavo Bou finished tied for fourth in combined goals and assists with 24, while Gil was tied for eighth with 22. Striker Adam Buksa, the Revolution’s Golden Boot winner with 16 goals, was tied for 11th with 20 combined points.