Steve Nicol, the longest-tenured coach in MLS, is out of a job after he and the New England Revolution agreed to part ways. The decision came two days after the end of another losing season for the Revs, their second consecutive season that ended without a playoff berth. It ends Nicol's 10-year run in New England that saw him take the club to four MLS Cup finals, including three in a row from 2005-2007.
Steve Nicol Out As New England Revolution Head Coach
The longest-tenured head coach in MLS, Steve Nicol, is out as Revolution head coach
“Robert [Kraft] and I met with Stevie today and we had a productive discussion about this past season and the direction the club needs to go in the future,” said Jonathan Kraft. “We all agreed a change of direction was needed to reverse the trend of the past couple of years. Stevie was a successful head coach and a tremendous ambassador for the Revolution for the past decade and set a high standard for success, leading us to four conference titles in six years. We thank him for all of his contributions.”
With Shalrie Joseph in the center of the pitch, Steve Ralston joining him in the midfield, Taylor Twellman up top and Matt Reis in goal, Nicol built one of the strongest teams in the league during the 2000's. Between their first MLS Cup final appearance in 2002 and final one in 2007, the Revolution qualified for six consecutive Eastern Conference finals. Their inability to win a MLS Cup despite four trips to the final game was always held over the club's head though, even if they did win the U.S. Open Cup in 2007.
The last two years have been downright abysmal in New England. They took just 60 points from their 64 matches in the last two years, the worst in MLS. Ownership has been questioned, with the club’s lack of spending in an era that has seen MLS expand and grow. The Revolution’s ownership just did not want to invest in the club the way other clubs did and it showed on the field. Only three teams in the league have been even close to as poor as the Revs in the last two years and Chivas USA, DC United and Toronto FC have all made coaching changes in the last two years as well.
New England stated that they will begin their look for a new coach immediately. There are no early indications as to who the Revs will look to, although considering the club’s unwillingness to spend money, it will not be a job that many coaches with reputation and options will want.
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