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Former Revolution coach Bruce Arena reportedly set to be hired by the San Jose Earthquakes
Arena also offered a rare comment about the MLS investigation that led to his resignation from the Revolution in 2023.
Bruce Arena reportedly returning to coaching in MLS: Former Revolution head coach Bruce Arena, who resigned from New England in 2023 after an MLS investigation into allegations that he made “insensitive and inappropriate remarks,” is reportedly set to take vacant role in charge of the San Jose Earthquakes.
Arena, 73, will become the Earthquake’s manager and sporting director, according to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle. If confirmed, it would be the fifth MLS team that the longtime U.S. coach has led. Arena, a four-time Coach of the Year, has won five league titles and holds the record for most all-time wins in MLS history.
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The job in San Jose will be an enormous challenge for Arena. The Earthquakes ended up a league-worst 6-25-3 in 2024, the club’s second last-place finish in the last three seasons.
Arena took over the Revolution in similarly difficult circumstances (albeit he did so in midseason in 2019). The former U.S. national team coach led New England to the playoffs that season, reached the semifinals of MLS Cup playoffs in 2020, and won the Supporters’ Shield in 2021. The Revolution missed the postseason only once during Arena’s tenure, in 2022.
But in August of 2023, with New England sitting second in the Eastern Conference, Arena was placed on administrative leave amid a league investigation into “allegations that he made insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”
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Over a month later, Arena resigned. The league never released the full results of its investigation, only noting in a statement afterward that it had “confirmed certain of these allegations” against Arena.
Since his departure, Arena has been tightlipped about what triggered the investigation. In comments made to Carlisle, the ex-Revolution coach added slightly more to his account of what happened.
“It was just staff joking around with each other in private,” Arena told Carlisle. “I accept any of the criticism and I’m moving forward.”
New England has struggled since Arena left the team, falling down the standings in 2023 — though ultimately still making the playoffs — before finishing 2024 in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference.
Scores and schedules:
The Celtics lost to the Warriors 118-112 on Wednesday. Boston scored just 16 points in the second quarter, but rallied with 41 in the third. Still, despite 32 points from Jayson Tatum, Golden State emerged with a win.
On Thursday, the Celtics host the Nets at 7:30 p.m.
The play the Flames tonight at TD Garden. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Steph Curry burns the Celtics as Warriors hold on late: 10 takeaways
- Steph Curry explains challenges that await Celtics as they aim for repeat
- What Jayson Tatum said about facing Steve Kerr, Warriors first time after Olympics benching
- At TD Garden, Steve Kerr offers a scathing critique of President-elect Trump’s voter fraud claims
- MLB insider believes Red Sox are one of 7 teams interested in Juan Soto
- Jason McCourty says that 2024 Patriots need to ‘shut the hell up’ amid tough season
- Michael Bennett recalled how Bill Belichick treated Tom Brady as harshly as other Patriots
Book club: This month, the Boston.com Book Club pick is Boston Globe columnist Chad Finn’s latest.
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“The Boston Globe Story of the Celtics” chronicles the history of the NBA’s most successful team, featuring classic Globe Celtics articles from Finn, Bob Ryan, Jackie MacMullan, Leigh Montville, Dan Shaughnessy, Baxter Holmes, Gary Washburn, and Adam Himmelsbach (among others).
If you have questions for Chad that you think would be interesting for the club’s discussion (happening this Friday), feel free to reach out ([email protected]).
The Fleet’s new look: The Boston Fleet (formerly PWHL Boston) unveiled the team’s new jerseys for the upcoming season (which gets underway against Toronto on Nov. 30).
More than a triple deke: Former Boston University standout Jack Eichel scored an enjoyably skillful goal for Las Vegas on Wednesday in a 4-2 win.
On this day: In 1987, the Celtics won a triple-overtime classic against the Washington Bullets, 140-139. Larry Bird led the way with 47, including multiple game-winning shots (the first, which Bird nailed in the fourth quarter, didn’t count because Boston head coach K.C. Jones called a timeout right beforehand).
“His purpose on this planet is clear,” wrote inimitable Boston Globe reporter Bob Ryan. “He executes the athletic fantasies of mankind.”
Daily highlight: Stanford men’s soccer defeated Notre Dame 3-2 with two seconds remaining after Dylan Hooper’s miraculous half-field goal.
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