Bruce Arena facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bruce Arena

Arena in 2006
Personal information
Date of birth	(1951-09-21) September 21, 1951 (age 73)
Place of birth	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	San Jose Earthquakes (manager and sporting director)
Youth career
1968	New York Hota
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1969–1971	Nassau Lions
1971–1973	Cornell Big Red
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1976	Tacoma Tides
International career
1973	United States	1	(0)
Managerial career
1973	Cornell Big Red (assistant)
1976	Puget Sound Loggers
1977	Cornell Big Red (lacrosse assistant)
1978–1985	Virginia Cavaliers (lacrosse assistant)
1978–1995	Virginia Cavaliers (soccer)
1996	United States U-23
1996–1998	D.C. United
1998–2006	United States
2006–2007	New York Red Bulls
2008–2016	LA Galaxy
2016–2017	United States
2019–2023	New England Revolution
2024–	San Jose Earthquakes
Medal record Men's soccer Representing  United States (as manager) FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze 1999 CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner 2002 Bronze 2003 Winner 2005 Winner 2017
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Bruce Arena (born September 21, 1951) is a very successful American soccer coach. He is currently the head coach and sporting director for the San Jose Earthquakes.

Bruce Arena is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He is known as one of the most successful coaches in North American soccer history. He has won five College Cup titles and five MLS Cup titles. He was the head coach for the United States men's national soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also coached several Major League Soccer (MLS) teams like the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United, LA Galaxy, and the New England Revolution.

He is the longest-serving head coach for the U.S. soccer team and has the most wins. He is also the only coach to lead the team to two World Cups. Before becoming a coach, Arena played as a goalkeeper for Cornell University. He also played one game for the United States men's national soccer team.

Bruce Arena's Playing Career

High School and College Years

Bruce Arena was born in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Franklin Square, New York. In high school, he played soccer as a defender. He became the team's goalkeeper when the main goalie was suspended. He also played for a local club called Hota S.C.

After high school, he played both lacrosse and soccer at Nassau Community College. He was recognized as an All-American player in both sports. In 2008, he was added to the National Junior College Hall of Fame. Later, he went to Cornell University. There, he was also an All-American in lacrosse. He joined the Cornell soccer team as a goalkeeper when other goalies were injured. He helped the Cornell Big Red soccer team reach the final four of the 1972 NCAA University Division Men's Soccer Championship. He was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player for that tournament.

Professional Soccer and Lacrosse

After college, the New York Cosmos soccer team drafted Bruce Arena. However, they released him before the season started. He then played professional lacrosse for the Montreal Quebecois in 1975. When that league ended, he joined the Tacoma Tides soccer team in 1976. While playing for the Tides, he also started coaching the men's soccer team at the University of Puget Sound.

Playing for the National Team

In 1973, Bruce Arena played one game for the United States men's national soccer team. He came in as a substitute in a game against Israel. Besides soccer, he also played for the U.S. national lacrosse team. That team won the 1974 World Lacrosse Championship.

Bruce Arena's Coaching Career

Coaching in College

In 1977, Arena became an assistant lacrosse coach at Cornell. In 1978, he moved to the University of Virginia (UVA). There, he coached both the lacrosse and soccer teams for seven years. In 1985, he became the dedicated head soccer coach for UVA. He coached the Virginia soccer team for 18 years. During this time, he won five national championships, including four in a row from 1991 to 1994. His team's record was 295 wins, 58 losses, and 32 ties. He also helped develop many players who later played for the U.S. national team, such as Claudio Reyna and John Harkes.

Coaching D.C. United

On January 3, 1996, Bruce Arena became the coach of D.C. United in Major League Soccer. This was the first season for both the team and the league. Arena also coached the United States men's national under-23 soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Despite a tough start, Arena led D.C. United to win the first-ever MLS Cup in 1996. They also won the 1996 U.S. Open Cup. In 1997, D.C. United won their second MLS Cup. Arena was named the MLS Coach of the Year in 1997. In 1998, D.C. United reached the MLS Cup final again but lost. However, Arena led them to win the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and the Copa Interamericana that year.

Coaching the U.S. National Team

Bruce Arena became the head coach of the U.S. national team in October 1998. He helped the team become very successful internationally. He has the most wins of any coach in U.S. history. The team also reached its highest-ever FIFA Ranking (4th place) in April 2006. Arena also won two CONCACAF Gold Cup championships in 2002 and 2005.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup was a highlight for Arena. The U.S. team was not expected to do well, but they surprised everyone by beating Portugal 3–2. They also tied with host nation South Korea. This helped them move to the second round. In the Round of 16, the U.S. beat Mexico 2–0. They then played Germany in the quarterfinals, but lost 1–0.

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. team did not perform as well as hoped. They finished last in their group. After this, the United States Soccer Federation decided not to renew Arena's contract. He had 81 wins as the national team coach, which is the highest number in the team's history. His friend and former assistant, Bob Bradley, replaced him.

Coaching the New York Red Bulls

After leaving the national team, Arena became the coach for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer on August 12, 2006. He coached the team for about a year and a half. On November 5, 2007, he and the Red Bulls decided to part ways.

Coaching the LA Galaxy

On August 18, 2008, the LA Galaxy hired Bruce Arena as their head coach and general manager. The team had not made the playoffs since 2005. Arena worked to improve the team's defense. In 2009, the Galaxy finished second in the league standings. Arena was named the MLS Coach of the Year Award.

The 2011 Major League Soccer season was very successful for the Galaxy. They won the Supporters' Shield for having the best regular season record. They also won the 2011 MLS Cup by beating the Houston Dynamo 1–0. The Galaxy was undefeated at their home stadium in 2011. In the 2012 season, the Galaxy won the championship again, once more against Houston. He won a third championship with the Galaxy in 2014 against the New England Revolution.

Second Time with the National Team

On November 22, 2016, Bruce Arena became the coach of the United States men's national soccer team for a second time. He replaced Jürgen Klinsmann. Arena led the team to a 6–0 win over Honduras and a 1–1 tie with Panama. On June 9, he led the team to an important 2–0 win against Trinidad and Tobago. The team also had a 1–1 draw against Mexico at Estadio Azteca. The team had a 14-match unbeaten streak, which was their best ever.

During this time, Arena's team won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, on October 10, 2017, the U.S. team needed a tie against Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. team lost 1–2. Because of this loss, and other teams winning, the U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Three days later, Arena resigned from his position.

Coaching the New England Revolution

On May 14, 2019, Bruce Arena was named the head coach and sporting director of the New England Revolution. His first game was a 2–1 win against his former team, the LA Galaxy.

Under Arena, the Revolution, who were in last place, went eleven games without a loss. They qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2015. In the 2020 season, Arena's Revolution reached the Eastern Conference Final of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. In the 2021 season, Arena led the Revolution to win their first-ever Supporters' Shield for having the best regular season record. The team also set a record for most points in a regular season with 73. Arena was named MLS Coach of the Year for a record fourth time.

In 2023, the Revolution were doing well, in second place in their conference. However, on August 1, 2023, Arena was placed on leave. On September 9, 2023, he resigned from his role with the Revolution.

Coaching the San Jose Earthquakes

On November 7, 2024, Bruce Arena was announced as the new head coach and sporting director of the San Jose Earthquakes. His first win with the Earthquakes came on February 22, 2025, a 4–0 victory over Real Salt Lake.

Personal Life

Bruce Arena lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Phyllis. He has a brother named Michael and a son named Kenny Arena. Kenny also played soccer and is now a coach. Bruce Arena is a grandparent.

Coaching Record

Awards and Achievements

As a Coach

D.C. United

• MLS Cup (2): 1996, 1997
• MLS Supporters' Shield: 1997
• MLS Eastern Conference (3): 1996, 1997, 1998
• U.S. Open Cup: 1996
• CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 1998
• Interamerican Cup: 1998

LA Galaxy

• MLS Cup (3): 2011, 2012, 2014
• MLS Supporters' Shield (2): 2010, 2011
• MLS Western Conference (4): 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014

New England Revolution

• MLS Supporters' Shield (1): 2021

University of Virginia

• College Cup (5): 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
• ACC Men's Soccer Tournament (6): 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

United States National Team

• CONCACAF Gold Cup (3): 2002, 2005, 2017

Individual Coaching Awards

• MLS Coach of the Year (4): 1997, 2009, 2011, 2021

As a Player

Individual Playing Awards

• NJCAA Lacrosse Hall of Fame: Class of 2008

See also

In Spanish: Bruce Arena para niños

• List of Major League Soccer coaches