Bruce Arena facts for kids
Arena in 2006
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | September 21, 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968 | New York Hota | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | Tacoma Tides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973 | United States | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Bruce Arena (born September 21, 1951) is a famous American soccer coach. He is currently the head coach and sporting director for the San Jose Earthquakes team.
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 coached the U.S. national team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also led teams like the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United, LA Galaxy, and New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.
Before becoming a coach, Arena played as a goalkeeper. He played for Cornell University and even played one game for the United States men's national soccer team.
Contents
Bruce Arena's Soccer Journey
Early Life and Playing Days
Bruce Arena was born in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Italian immigrants. He grew up in Franklin Square, New York. He went to Carey High School. His father worked as a butcher.
Bruce was good at many sports. He was too small for American football. So, he joined his high school's soccer team as a defender. He became the goalkeeper when the main goalie was suspended. He also played for a local club called Hota S.C.
High School and College Sports
After high school, Bruce played both lacrosse and soccer at Nassau Community College. He was an All-American player in both sports. In 2008, he was added to the National Junior College Hall of Fame.
Then, he moved to Cornell University. He was also an All-American in lacrosse there. He didn't plan to play soccer at Cornell. But the team's main goalkeepers got hurt. So, the coach asked Bruce to play. He helped the Cornell Big Red soccer team reach the 1972 NCAA Soccer Championship Final Four.
Playing Professionally
After college, the New York Cosmos picked him in the draft. But they released him before the season started. Bruce then played professional lacrosse for the Montreal Quebecois in 1975.
When the lacrosse league ended, he joined the Tacoma Tides soccer team in 1976. This was important because it introduced him to coaching. While playing, he also coached the men's soccer team at the University of Puget Sound.
Representing the USA
In 1973, Bruce played one game for the United States men's national soccer team. He came in as a substitute against Israel. He also played for the U.S. national lacrosse team. They won the 1974 World Lacrosse Championship.
Becoming a Top Coach
Coaching College Teams
In 1977, Arena went back to Cornell as an assistant lacrosse coach. In 1978, he joined the University of Virginia (UVA). He coached both the lacrosse and soccer teams for seven years. In 1985, he became the dedicated soccer coach.
Bruce coached the Virginia soccer team for 18 years. He won five national championships, including four in a row from 1991 to 1994. He helped many players who later played for the U.S. national team. These players included Claudio Reyna and John Harkes.
Leading D.C. United to Glory
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. He had to build a team from scratch.
He also coached the U.S. U-23 national team at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Despite a tough start, he led D.C. United to win the first-ever MLS Cup. They also won the 1996 U.S. Open Cup.
In 1997, D.C. United won their second MLS Cup. Bruce was named the MLS Coach of the Year. In 1998, his team reached the MLS Cup again but lost. However, they won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup and the Interamerican Cup.
Coaching the U.S. National Team
In October 1998, Bruce Arena became the head coach of the U.S. national team. He helped the team become very successful. He has the most international wins for a U.S. coach.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was a highlight. The U.S. team was not expected to do well. But they surprised everyone by beating Portugal 3-2. They also tied with South Korea. They reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to Germany 1-0.
The U.S. team did not do as well in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They finished last in their group. After this, the U.S. Soccer Federation decided not to renew his contract. Bruce Arena had 81 wins as the national team coach, which is the most in the team's history.
Coaching in Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls
After leaving the national team, Arena coached the New York Red Bulls starting in August 2006. He stayed with the club for about a year and a half.
LA Galaxy Success
On August 18, 2008, Bruce Arena became the head coach and general manager for the LA Galaxy. The team had not made the playoffs since 2005. Arena rebuilt the team's defense.
In 2009, the Galaxy finished second in the league. Arena was named the MLS Coach of the Year Award again. In 2011, his team won the Supporters' Shield and the 2011 MLS Cup. They won the championship again in 2012 and 2014.
Return to the National Team
On November 22, 2016, Arena returned to coach the United States men's national soccer team for a second time. This happened after the team had a tough start in World Cup qualifying.
He led the team to a 6-0 win against Honduras. They also had a 14-match unbeaten streak. In 2017, his team won the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
However, the U.S. team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They lost to Trinidad and Tobago in their final qualifying game. This was the first time since 1986 that the U.S. did not make the World Cup. Bruce Arena resigned three days later.
New England Revolution Era
On May 14, 2019, Bruce Arena became the head coach and sporting director of the New England Revolution. The team was in last place when he took over.
Under his leadership, the Revolution went 11 games without a loss. They qualified for the playoffs in 2019. In 2020, they reached the Eastern Conference Final.
In the 2021 season, Arena led the Revolution to their first-ever Supporters' Shield. This means they had the best regular season record in the league. He won the MLS Coach of the Year award for a record fourth time.
In August 2023, Arena was placed on leave due to some allegations. He resigned from the Revolution on September 9, 2023.
San Jose Earthquakes
On November 7, 2024, Bruce Arena was announced as the new head coach and sporting director of the San Jose Earthquakes.
About Bruce Arena
Family Life
Bruce Arena lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Phyllis. Before that, he lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, for most of his coaching career.
He has a brother named Michael. His son, Kenny Arena, also played soccer and is now a coach. Bruce is a grandparent.
Coaching Wins and Records
Here is a summary of Bruce Arena's coaching record:
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| D.C. United | January 3, 1996 | December 6, 1998 | 128 | 71 | 28 | 29 | 55.47 | ||
| United States | October 26, 1998 | July 14, 2006 | 130 | 71 | 29 | 30 | 54.62 | ||
| New York Red Bulls | July 18, 2006 | November 5, 2007 | 52 | 19 | 13 | 20 | 36.54 | ||
| LA Galaxy | August 18, 2008 | November 22, 2016 | 348 | 166 | 89 | 93 | 47.70 | ||
| United States | November 22, 2016 | October 13, 2017 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 55.56 | ||
| New England Revolution | June 1, 2019 | September 9, 2023 | 156 | 71 | 48 | 37 | 45.51 | ||
| Total | 832 | 408 | 213 | 211 | 49.04 | ||||
Awards and Trophies
Bruce Arena has won many awards and trophies 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
- CONCACAF Gold Cup (3): 2002, 2005, 2017
- Individual Awards
- MLS Coach of the Year (4): 1997, 2009, 2011, 2021
- NJCAA Lacrosse Hall of Fame: Class of 2008 (as a player)
See also
- List of Major League Soccer coaches
