MOUTH GETS COACH IN TROUBLE -- AGAIN

“The World’s Greatest Soccer Coach,” Bruce Arena no longer is in charge of Major League Soccer’s 

New England Revolution. His resignation was announced Tuesday although apparently he told 

owner Robert Kraft of his decision last Saturday (Sept. 9). 

 Why Arena, former University of Virginia coach who won five NCAA championships before 

leaving in 1996 to join the new MLS with D.C. United, walked away – or, for that matter, was put on 

administrative leave in August and never returned – remains shrouded in mystery. While all sorts of 

possible reasons were suggested by the game’s intelligentsia, no one, including Arena, has said 

outright what really happened. 

 There was one “report” that he had used a racial slur heard by a party (or parties) unknown. The 

person who made the comment walked it back the next day and subsequently was fired. All team 

members quizzed for the record by Boston media said they never heard Arena say anything like that. 

To further confuse things … Revolution assistant Richie Williams, a former Richmond Kicker who 

had been serving as interim coach, told reporters Tuesday he would remain in that position until 

season’s end … only to be removed 24 hours later. Club officials said later Williams would remain 

on the payroll in a capacity to be determined.There was a rumor the team did not want to play for Williams, who had been with Arena for more than 30 years starting as a player at UVA. 

Former University of Richmond coach Clint Peay was named to replace “The World’s Greatest” (and 

Williams) also on an interim basis. Peay, who likewise played for Arena at Virginia and D.C. United, 

had been coach of New England’s reserve team Revolution II which played in the MLS NEXT Pro. 

Curt Onalfo, another former Hoo and long-time associate who has been the Revs’ technical director 

since Arena arrived in 2019, added “sporting director” to his job description. The Revolution went 

into a road game Saturday (Sept. 16) at the Colorado Rapids with the second best record in MLS. 

Under Williams, New England won one of four games, tying two. 

 You want rumors? OK ... It was hinted (but never substantiated) that Williams and Onalfo had been 

at odds with Arena over personnel decisions (and other things) … and that Williams initiated the 

league’s investigation into what was described as “insensitive and inappropriate comments“ by 

Arena ... Out of loyalty to “The World’s Greatest,” the team reportedly refused to practice until 

Williams was removed … And, according to unidentified sources rounded up by The Athletic, Arena 

previously told Williams he would not be retained in 2024. 

 Fact, not rumor: Two other members of the New England staff, Dave van den Bergh and Shalrie 

Joseph, were fired after coming out in defense of Arena. Van den Bergh played for Arena with the 

MLS New York Red Bulls. Joseph was a popular midfielder with the Revolution for 10 years and, 

apparently, was the only member of the staff who did not have some previous history with Arena. 

Actually, if it wasn’t so serious, the whole thing could be described as borderline comical as the 

soccer media became irate over what it considered lack of transparency. In other words, they couldn’t 

find anyone who would (cliché alert) spill the beans on what “The World’s Greatest” said, did, or 

whatever. 

 The most the league would say was that a law firm hired to look into Arena’s controversial remarks 

found there could be some truth he made them. Oh … and if he wanted to coach in MLS again, he 

first would have to get permission from Commissioner Don Garber … who will never be described 

as a friend of his. 

 In a press release, Arena, 71, said he made some mistakes … and would take time 

to reflect on them. There was no mention of what he did. Bummer! 

 “The World’s Greatest” unquestionably has been the most successful coach in American soccer 

history, also winning five MLS championships as well as elevating the men’s national team to 

becoming a force in the World Cup. In 2002, the USMNT reached the quarterfinals, highest in 

modern times, under Arena. Along the way he’s made enemies for seldom if ever refusing to put a 

filter on his mouth which, he often admitted, “sometimes gets me in trouble.” For example, he was 

suspended for three games in 2020 by Garber for telling the truth … that the officiating … shall we 

say, left a lot to be desired. Garber already had it in for Arena because of a 2004 New York Times 

article in which he criticized MLS (in particular) for “weird decisions” such as not following the rest 

of the world by taking a schedule break during World Cup qualifying. “Insane,” Arena called it. “It 

shows lack of respect for the national team.” In 2018, he wrote a book (with journalist Steve 

Kettmann) -- “What’s Wrong with US? A Coach’s Blunt Take on the State of American Soccer After 

a Lifetime on the Touchline” – in which he said Garber tried to get him fired. “I was just saying 

aloud what everyone knows to be true,” Arena said. “I prefer to be direct and to the point. That’s who 

I am.” 

 Until next time ...