Ex-USMNT Manager Bruce Arena Named New England Revolution Head Coach

Former USMNT manager Bruce Arena has been appointed as the new head coach and sporting director of MLS side New England Revolution. 

The Revolution announced the news via their official website. Investor/operator Robert Kraft discussed his appointment:

"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. 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 will immediately start his job as sporting director, while an exact date for his first day as manager is still unknown. The current technical staff will remain in place. New England host Chelsea in a charity match to help combat antisemitism on Wednesday at Gillette Stadium.

The Revolution sacked their previous manager, Brad Friedel, following an embarrassing 5-0 defeat away to Chicago Fire on Wednesday. At the time, the team had won just two of their first 12 MLS matches of the season and were bottom of the Eastern Conference, per BBC Sport. 

Sports writer Ives Galarcep believes the club is rectifying a mistake by hiring Arena now, and his struggles with the national team shouldn't overshadow everything else he has accomplished:

Fox Sports' Keith Costigan is also a fan of the move:

The 67-year-old Arena has won the MLS Cup five times during his career, twice at D.C. United and three times with L.A. Galaxy. He also guided the USMNT to three Gold Cup victories, but his second stint with the Stars and Stripes was not successful.

Returning in 2016 as Jurgen Klinsmann's replacement, he failed to guide the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the USMNT's elimination confirmed after a disastrous 2-1 loss away to Trinidad & Tobago. He resigned shortly after the defeat.