Bruce Arena has resigned as New England Revolution head coach and sporting director, admitting to “mistakes” amid a league investigation into inappropriate remarks.
Arena, the winningest coach in MLS history and a two-time U.S. men’s national team head coach, will have to petition MLS commissioner Don Garber should he wish to coach in the league again.
On August 1, Arena was placed on administrative leave amid a MLS investigation into allegations of “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”
Revolution assistant Richie Williams has served as interim head coach in the meantime. Just hours before Arena’s resignation was announced, The Athletic reported that Williams himself had filed some of the complaints against Arena.
The nature of Arena’s remarks has not been revealed, but the league said in a statement that its investigation confirmed some elements of the allegations.
Statement from MLS on New England Revolution Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena. pic.twitter.com/g7SLHMQCKf
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) September 10, 2023
In a statement issued by the Revolution, Arena said: “I know that I have made some mistakes and moving forward, I plan to spend some time reflecting on this situation and taking corrective steps to address what has transpired.
“And while this has not been an easy decision, I am confident that it is in the best interest of both the New England Revolution organization and my family that we part ways at this time.”
Arena, who turns 72 this month, was in the midst of his fifth season in charge of the Revolution. He has won five MLS Cups, two with D.C. United (1996, 1997) and three with the LA Galaxy (2011, 2012, 2014). With 262 victories, he is the winningest coach in MLS history.
Arena has coached the USMNT on two separate occasions. He led the team to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, the team’s best finish in the modern era, before coaching the U.S. to a group-stage exit at the 2006 World Cup.
He returned for a second spell in 2016, taking over midway through the team’s ultimately unsuccessful qualifying cycle for the 2018 World Cup.
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