FOURTH TIME IS A CHARM: Arena named MLS coach of the year

Bruce Arena has won MLS coach of the year honors with three clubs. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)

New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena has been voted the 2021 Sigi Schmid MLS coach of the year, it was announced by the league Monday.

Arena earns his fourth MLS coach of the year honor, the most in league history, after guiding New England to its first Supporters’ Shield title and an MLS-record 73 points in the regular season.

Arena, a five-time MLS Cup champion and the winningest head coach in MLS postseason history, will lead the Revolution into the MLS Cup Playoffs with an Eastern Conference semifinal match against New York City FC on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium (FS1, FOX Deportes).

The Franklin Square, N.Y. native won his record fourth Supporters’ Shield title this season with his third 20-win season in MLS, earning homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and a Round One bye. The Revolution’s 22 wins this season, which tied the most non-shootout victories in a season, saw Arena move into a tie with the late Sigi Schmid for the most regular season wins in league history with 240. Under Arena’s guidance, the Revolution set a new league record with 2.15 points per game while matching the highest winning percentage in MLS history at .750.

He joined Bob Bradley as the second individual to win the MLS coach of the year award with three clubs, having previously won the honor with D.C. United in 1997 and twice with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2009 and 2011. Arena is the second Revolution coach to be named coach of the year after Steve Nicol in 2002. Seeking his sixth MLS Cup victory, Arena is three wins away from becoming the first MLS coach – and the second coach across the five major North American men’s professional leagues – to win a championship with three different teams (Scotty Bowman – NHL).

Arena became the third member of the Revolution to collect 2021 MLS year-end honors. On Nov. 22, Matt Turner was announced as the 2021 Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, while Carles Gil was recognized as the 2021 MLS Comeback Player of the Year on Nov. 24. Gil is a finalist for the Landon Donovan MVP award.

 

Below is a breakdown of the voting results:

 

COACH	PLAYER	CLUB	MEDIA	TOTAL
Arena, Bruce (NE)	54.20%	57.60%	62.10%	57.97%
Fraser, Robin (COL)	10.90%	30.30%	21.20%	20.80%
Schmetzer, Brian (SEA)	2.60%	3.00%	6.40%	4.00%
Smith, Gary (NSH)	3.60%	3.00%	3.00%	3.20%
Nancy, Wilfried (MTL)	2.10%	3.00%	1.50%	2.20%

BRUCE ARENA’S 2021 SEASON AT A GLANCE:

• Led the Revolution to a league-record 73 points and the club’s first-ever Supporters’ Shield title.
• Recorded 22 wins, tied for the most non-shootout wins in a season, to tie Sigi Schmid for the most regular season victories in MLS history (240).
• Earned fourth Supporters’ Shield title and fourth MLS Coach of the Year honor, both MLS highs.
• Compiled a 22-5-7 record, setting a new MLS mark with 2.15 points per game and tying the league’s best-ever winning percentage (.750)
• Directed the Revolution to a 12-2-3 record at home, equaling the club’s best-ever mark in Foxborough, and a league-high 10 wins on the road
• Guided New England to new club records for goals (65), assists (70), and goal differential (+24), leading the league in all three categories