New England Revolution facts for kids
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| Full name | New England Revolution | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Revs | ||
| Founded | June 15, 1994 | ||
| Stadium | Gillette Stadium | ||
| Stadium capacity |
20,000 | ||
| Owner | Robert Kraft | ||
| President | Brian Bilello | ||
| Head coach | Caleb Porter | ||
| League | Major League Soccer | ||
| 2024 | Eastern Conference: 14th Overall: 26th Playoffs: Did not qualify |
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The New England Revolution is a professional soccer team from the Greater Boston area. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Eastern Conference. The Revolution is one of the first ten teams to join MLS when the league started in 1996.
The team is owned by Robert Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots football team. The name "Revolution" honors New England's important role in the American Revolution (1775–1783).
The Revolution plays home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. This stadium is about 21 miles (34 km) southwest of downtown Boston. Before Gillette Stadium, the team played at Foxboro Stadium from 1996 to 2001. The Revs are the only original MLS team to have all their league games televised throughout their history.
The Revolution won their first major trophy, the 2007 U.S. Open Cup, in 2007. The next year, they won the 2008 North American SuperLiga. In 2021, they won their first Supporters' Shield. The Revolution has played in five MLS Cup finals (in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2014). This is the most MLS Cup final appearances for any team that has not yet won the MLS Cup.
Contents
Team History
Early Years (1996–2001)
Soccer has a long past in New England. The Oneida Football Club in Boston was the first organized team to play "football/soccer" in the U.S. in 1862. Later, teams like the Boston Soccer Club and Fall River F.C. played in the professional American Soccer League. Fall River F.C. was very successful, winning the National Challenge Cup four times.
The 1994 FIFA World Cup was held in the U.S., and Foxboro Stadium was one of the host venues. This event helped bring professional soccer back to the Boston area. On June 6, 1995, Robert Kraft became the owner of the New England Revolution. The team joined Major League Soccer (MLS) as one of its first ten clubs in 1996.
The first Revolution team included several U.S. Men's national team players like Alexi Lalas and Joe-Max Moore. However, the team struggled and missed the playoffs in its first year. They made the playoffs the next season but lost in the first round. For the next five years, the team continued to struggle.
Even with poor results, many fans came to watch the Revolution. More than 15,000 people regularly attended games at the old Foxboro Stadium. In 2001, the Revs reached the final of the 2001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. They lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy in overtime.
Steve Nicol Era (2002–2011)
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol became the full-time head coach in 2002. He had been an interim coach before. Under Nicol, the Revolution made the playoffs for a league-record eight seasons in a row.
Playoff Success (2002–2007)
In his first year, Nicol led the Revs to finish first in the Eastern Conference. The team made it to the MLS Cup final but lost to the Galaxy again, 1–0 in overtime. This final, held at Gillette Stadium, had 61,316 fans, which was the largest crowd for an MLS Cup until 2018.
After losing in the conference finals in 2003 and 2004, the Revs reached the MLS Cup final again in 2005. They lost to Los Angeles 1–0 in extra time. In MLS Cup 2006, New England had a great chance to win their first MLS championship against the Houston Dynamo. Taylor Twellman scored late in the game, but the Dynamo tied it quickly. The Revs then lost in a penalty shootout.
In the 2007 season, the Revs played in two cup finals. They lost the 2007 MLS Cup to Houston again. However, they won their first-ever trophy, the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, by beating FC Dallas 3–2. The Revolution holds the record for the most losses in MLS Cup games.
Rebuilding (2008–2011)
The 2007 U.S. Open Cup win allowed the club to play in the CONCACAF Champions League. They also played in SuperLiga 2008. So, the Revolution competed in four different tournaments in 2008. They started the 2008 season very well, leading the MLS and finishing first in SuperLiga. The team won SuperLiga by beating the Houston Dynamo in the final. This win was a small revenge for their MLS Cup losses.
However, playing in so many competitions led to many injuries and tired players. The team struggled in MLS and lost in the first round of the playoffs. They also lost in the semifinals of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
In 2009, the Revs continued to have mixed results, losing in the first round of the playoffs again. In 2010, they reached the SuperLiga final for the second time but lost to Monarcas Morelia. The team missed the playoffs in both 2010 and 2011. At the end of 2011, the Revolution announced they had parted ways with coach Steve Nicol after 10 years.
Jay Heaps Era (2012–2017)
On November 15, 2011, former Revolution player Jay Heaps was hired as the new head coach. His first win came on March 24, 2012, a 1–0 victory over the Portland Timbers. The 2012 season was another tough one, with the team finishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Despite the struggles, Heaps began to build a strong team for the future. They added talented players like Lee Nguyen and Kelyn Rowe. In 2013, the club continued to add key players such as José Gonçalves and Andrew Farrell.
The 2013 team finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference, making the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Young player Diego Fagúndez had a great season, leading the team with 13 goals. Their season ended in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
2014 Cup Run
Fans were hopeful for the 2014 season. The team was young and talented. After a slow start, the Revolution went on a 5-game winning streak in May. However, they then had an 8-game losing streak.
Things changed when the club signed U.S. national team player Jermaine Jones in August. The team then went on a great run, winning 10 of their last 12 games. They finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference. The Revolution easily won their playoff games, beating Columbus Crew and New York Red Bulls. This sent them to the MLS Cup Final for the first time since 2007.
On December 7, 2014, New England faced the LA Galaxy in the final. The Galaxy had beaten the Revolution in two previous finals. The Revolution lost again, 2–1. This was the club's fifth MLS Cup loss in five final appearances.
Decline
The Revolution had high hopes for the 2015 season. They added Juan Agudelo back to the team. However, injuries to key players like Jermaine Jones hurt their season. They lost in the first round of the playoffs. The club did set a new attendance record for a single match, with 42,947 fans.
In 2016, the Revolution signed Xavier Kouassi but he missed the season due to injury. They traded for striker Kei Kamara. The team played well but just missed the playoffs. They reached the 2016 U.S. Open Cup final but lost to FC Dallas. The Revolution also set a new club record for average home attendance.
The 2017 season was the last for Jay Heaps. The team had a great home record but struggled badly on the road. On September 13, 2017, New England lost 7–0 to Atlanta United FC, tying the MLS record for largest loss. Jay Heaps was fired shortly after.
Brad Friedel Era (2018–2019)
In November 2017, former U.S. national team goalkeeper Brad Friedel became the new head coach. The team started the 2018 season strongly, going on a six-match unbeaten run. Goalkeeper Matt Turner had a breakout season. However, the team's performance dropped in the second half of the season. They won only three more games and missed the playoffs.
Bruce Arena Era (2019–2023)
On May 9, 2019, coach Brad Friedel was fired. He was replaced by Bruce Arena, a very experienced coach. Under Arena, the Revolution went eleven games without a loss. They made the playoffs in 2019 but lost in the first round. In 2020, they lost in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2021: Supporters' Shield Winners
The 2021 season was historic. The Revolution won their first Supporters' Shield by having the best record in the regular season. They set a new MLS record with 73 points. Goalkeeper Matt Turner won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award. Carles Gil won the MLS Most Valuable Player Award. In the MLS Quarterfinals, the Revolution lost to New York City FC in a penalty shootout. Many people credit Bruce Arena for this big improvement.
2022 and Arena's Departure
In 2022, key players like Matt Turner and Adam Buksa left the team. The Revolution could not repeat their 2021 success, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference. They also lost in the quarterfinals of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.
The club improved in 2023, helped by Đorđe Petrović. He was later sold to Chelsea F.C. in August. On August 1, 2023, Bruce Arena was suspended due to "inappropriate and insensitive remarks." He resigned on September 9, 2023. The team finished 5th in the Eastern Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Caleb Porter Era (2024–present)
On December 19, 2023, Caleb Porter was named the new head coach. For the 2024 season, experts thought the Revolution would be a playoff team. Porter added new players like Nick Lima and Jonathan Mensah. The team's first win under Porter came on February 21, 2024, in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. On April 27, 2024, the Revolution set a new single-match attendance record of 65,612 during a game against Inter Miami CF and Lionel Messi.
Team Colors and Crest
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1996–2021
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The original team logo was based on the flag of the United States. Some stars were shaped like a soccer ball. It had six stars, representing the six New England states. This design was similar to the 1994 FIFA World Cup logo. The Revolution was the last founding MLS team to keep its original logo. In 2014, the flag and ball stayed, but the name was removed from the logo.
In 2021, the club launched a new logo. They asked fans what the new logo should represent. The new logo features an "R" above a red line. The shape inside the "R" looks like flag drapery, honoring the old logo. The "R"'s font is like lettering from the American Revolution era. Red details around the logo look like patriotic bunting. The line behind the logo means defiance.
Uniforms
The Revolution traditionally wore all navy blue at home. Since 2014, they have worn white shorts at home. For the club's 25th anniversary in 2020 and 2021, red shorts returned. The Revolution wore white away uniforms until 2015. That year, they introduced a red away jersey with white and green colors, honoring the flag of New England.
- Home
         2005
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     2006–2007
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    2008–2009
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     2010–2011
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    2012–2013
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     2014–2015
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     2016–2017
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     2018–2019
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    2020–2021
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    2022–2023
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   2024–
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- Away
    2002
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2004
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  2005
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     2006–2007
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    2008–2009
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     2010–2011
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    2012–2014
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    2015–2016
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 2017–2018
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     2019–2020
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     2021–2022
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   2023-
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Sponsorship
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Sleeve sponsor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–1999 | Reebok | — | ||||
| 2000 | Atletica | |||||
| 2001–2003 | Umbro | |||||
| 2004 | Reebok | |||||
| 2005–2011 | Adidas | |||||
| 2012–present | United Healthcare | — | ||||
Stadium Information
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The Revolution plays its home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. When the team started, they shared Foxboro Stadium with the New England Patriots football team. In 2002, Robert Kraft paid $350 million to build Gillette Stadium to replace Foxboro Stadium. In 2007, Kraft also built a shopping and entertainment center called Patriot Place around the stadium.
Gillette Stadium has 66,000 seats. For MLS games, the Revolution usually covers some sections to make the capacity smaller. However, they open the whole stadium for big international games and MLS Playoffs. In 2002, 61,316 fans watched the MLS Cup final at Gillette Stadium. This was a record for an MLS playoff game until 2018.
The field at Gillette Stadium is made of FieldTurf, which is a type of artificial grass. It was upgraded in 2014 and has a high quality rating from FIFA. Robert Kraft has said he would change the field to natural grass if Boston hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In 2019, Kraft opened a new $35 million training center for the team. It is located near Gillette Stadium. Despite these new facilities, Kraft still wants to build a new soccer-specific stadium closer to Boston.
Plans for a New Soccer Stadium
Since 2006, Major League Soccer and the Kraft Family have been looking for places to build a new stadium just for the Revolution. They want a stadium closer to Boston.
Over the years, many cities and towns in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have been considered. These include Somerville, Roxbury, Revere, Fall River, Providence, Central Falls, South Boston, Dorchester, Boston, and Everett, Massachusetts.
In 2024, the team showed pictures of a possible new stadium in Everett. However, the plan to change the land rules for the stadium did not pass in the Massachusetts legislature that year. The discussion about a new stadium continues.
Player Development
Reserve Team
In 2019, the club announced a reserve team called New England Revolution II. This team started playing in USL League One in 2020 at Gillette Stadium. In 2021, the team joined the new MLS Next Pro league, which began in 2022.
Youth Academy System
The New England Revolution Academy is a special program that helps young players develop their skills. It is fully paid for by the club. U.S. Soccer recognizes it as one of the best youth programs in the country. The Academy helps local players, no matter their financial background, work towards a professional soccer career.
All Revolution youth team home games are played at Gillette Stadium. Sometimes, they play at other locations like B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Since 2010, when Diego Fagúndez became the Revolution's first player signed directly from their youth system, many other young players have joined the main team. These include Scott Caldwell, Noel Buck, and Esmir Bajraktarević.
Club Culture
Supporters
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The team's main fan clubs are the "Midnight Riders" and "The Rebellion". The "Midnight Riders" name honors the famous rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes during the American Revolution.
These two groups sit together in the north stand of the stadium, which they call "The Fort." The Fort gets its name from the team's revolutionary theme. The Revolution also has a group called the End Zone Militia. These are people who dress up in American Revolutionary War clothing. They carry flintlock muskets, which they fire when the Revolution scores a goal.
Rivalries
The club's biggest rival is often seen as the New York Red Bulls. This rivalry comes from other Boston–New York sports rivalries, like in basketball, football, and baseball. From 2002, the Revs had a 20-game unbeaten streak against the Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium. This made the rivalry even stronger.
The Revolution also has rivalries with other Eastern Conference teams like D.C. United and Chicago Fire. These teams have played against each other many times in the playoffs.
Since 2015, a rivalry has grown with New York City FC. This is partly because New York City FC is linked to the Yankees baseball team. In 2021, New York City FC beat the Revolution in the playoffs in a penalty shootout, even though the Revolution had a better regular season record.
Broadcasting
From 2021 to 2022, all Revolution games were shown on local TV channels like WBZ-TV or WSBK-TV. National games were on ESPN, Fox Sports, and Univision. Radio broadcasts were on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
In 2023, MLS teamed up with Apple to create MLS Season Pass. This service shows every regular season and playoff MLS game. Now, most Revolution games are shown on MLS Season Pass.
Players
Current Roster
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Players on Loan
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Team Management
Head Coaches
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The current head coach is Caleb Porter, who started in December 2023. Before him, Bruce Arena was the coach from 2019 until 2023. Steve Nicol is the longest-serving head coach, managing the team from 2002 to 2011.
Staff
| Ownership and Senior Management | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Robert Kraft |
| President | Brian Bilello |
| Sporting director | Curt Onalfo |
| Technical director | Remi Roy |
| Assistant sporting director | Chris Tierney |
| Coaching Staff | |
| Head coach |  Caleb Porter |
| Assistant Coach | Blair Gavin |
| Assistant Coach |  Pablo Moreira |
| Assistant Coach | Clint Peay |
| Director of goalkeeping |  Kevin Hitchcock |
| Director of youth development | Rob Becerra |
Last updated: September 13, 2023
Source: [1]
Team Honors
Domestic Trophies
- Supporters' Shield
- Champions: 2021
- U.S. Open Cup
- Champions: 2007
- MLS Eastern Conference Championship
- Champions: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014
Regional Trophies
- North American SuperLiga
- Champions: 2008
Individual Club Awards
- MLS Team Fair Play Award
- Winners: 2003, 2008, 2012
Team Records
Year-by-Year Results
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