Bruce Arena
Encyclopedia
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team
as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse
player. He is the head coach
of Los Angeles Galaxy
in Major League Soccer
and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Arena has had a long and distinguished coaching career, and is generally considered to be one of the most successful coaches in North American soccer history. He was head coach of the United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
, the 2002 FIFA World Cup
and the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, was head coach of the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United
in Major League Soccer
, and coached the University of Virginia
to several college soccer
championships.
Before beginning his coaching career, Arena was a goalkeeper for Cornell University
, and earned one cap with the United States men's national soccer team
.
town of Franklin Square
, New York
, where he attended Carey High School
. While he excelled at several sports, he was too small for American football
, so he joined the school's soccer team as a defender. He moved into the goal when the starting goalkeeper was suspended after hitting another school's player during a game. While in high school, he also played a single season with local club Hota S.C. of New York City's Cosmopolitan Soccer League
.
After graduation, he began his collegiate athletic career playing both lacrosse
and soccer at Nassau Community College
, a two year college near his home. Arena was a 1970 and 1971 Honorable Mention All American lacrosse player and an All-America
soccer player. He was inducted into the National Junior College Hall of Fame in 2008. While at Nassau, he played soccer for head coach Bill Stevenson and goalkeeper coach Shep Messing
, a future New York Cosmos
goalkeeper. At the end of his two years with Nassau, Arena transferred to Cornell University
in upstate New York
where he was a 1972 Honorable Mention All American and a 1973 Second Team All American in lacrosse. He did not originally intend to play soccer, but injuries to the school's first and second string goalkeepers led to the men's soccer coach, Dan Wood
, to recruit Arena into the team as its goalkeeper. Arena backstopped the Cornell Big Red
soccer team to the 1972 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
Final Four and earned Most Valuable Defensive Player honors for the tournament.
(but then cut) by the New York Cosmos
of the North American Soccer League
. Arena then signed to play professional lacrosse for the Montreal Quebecois
, spending a single season with the team in 1975. The National Lacrosse League
folded at the end of the 1975 season, leaving Arena unemployed. At the same time, Dan Wood
, who had recruited Arena to play for the Cornell soccer team, had been named the new head coach of the expansion Tacoma Tides
which played in the American Soccer League
. Wood contacted Arena and convinced him to move to the Pacific Northwest
to play for him. While Arena was the second string goalkeeper behind starter Jamil Canal
, the move to Tacoma was significant in that it introduced Arena to coaching. That year, in addition to playing for the Tides, Arena coached the men's soccer team at the University of Puget Sound
.
cap
as a second half substitute for Bob Rigby
in a 2-0 loss to Israel
. In addition to his single cap with the U.S. soccer team, Arena also played for the national lacrosse team which won the 1974 World Lacrosse Championship
and finished runner up in 1978.
(UVA) advertised for two open coaching positions – head soccer coach and assistant lacrosse coach beginning the 1978 season. Arena took that opportunity and would go on to coach both the UVA lacrosse and soccer teams for seven years, before becoming the school’s dedicated soccer coach in 1985. Arena was the head coach of the Virginia program for eighteen years, during which he won five national championships (including 4 straight from 1991–94) and amassed a 295-58-32 record. Additionally, he coached and developed many players at Virginia who would go on to play significant roles in the United States national team, including Claudio Reyna
, Jeff Agoos
, John Harkes
and Tony Meola
. In addition to coaching, Arena served as the ACC soccer coaches chairman as well as two three-year terms on the NCAA Division I soccer committee from 1989 to 1995.
of Major League Soccer
. The 1996 season would be both the team's and the league's inaugural season, so Arena needed to build a team from scratch. To make his position even more difficult, he had agreed to coach the U.S. U-23 national team at the 1996 Summer Olympics
where it went 1-1-1. Despite the distraction of the Olympics, Arena managed to form his team and lead United to victory in the first MLS Cup
. In addition to the MLS Title, Arena also took United to the 1996 U.S. Open Cup
championship. Arena and United continued to experience success in 1997. The team won its second MLS Cup
defeating the Colorado Rapids
2-1. Arena's success led to his selection as the 1997 MLS Coach of the Year
. This year, Arena took United to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. In 1998, Arena took United to its third consecutive MLS Cup
only to see his team fall to the expansion Chicago Fire led by his protege Bob Bradley
. However, while Arena failed to add another MLS championship to his resume, he guided United to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Toluca
on August 16, 1998. He followed that with a defeat of Brazilian club Vasco da Gama
to take the Interamerican Cup
title. Arena was also the 1997 and 1998 MLS All-Star
head coach.
as head coach in October 1998 following the team's disastrous showing in the 1998 FIFA World Cup
. He forged the team into a successful international side, and is undisputedly the most successful coach in United States history: most international wins; longest home shut-out; best World Cup showing since 1930, reaching the quarterfinals at the 2002 World Cup, before a defeat against Germany
; and all-time best international FIFA Ranking
(4th place, April 2006). Arena also won two Gold Cup championships in 2002 and 2005, with a third place finish in 2003.
The 2002 World Cup was the high point of Arena's career as the U.S. coach. Heavy underdogs coming into the tournament, they stunned the world by beating a respected Portuguese team
3-2 in their opening game. Arena was lauded afterwards for instilling in his players the confidence to play aggressively against an international powerhouse. A hard-fought draw against host nation South Korea was enough to qualify for the second round, despite a poor loss against Poland
in the final group game. Arena and the U.S. met old nemesis Mexico in the Round of 16, and Arena adapted his tactics brilliantly to secure a 2-0 victory and a quarterfinal berth. The U.S. switched from their usual 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2, and it paid dividends almost immediately when Josh Wolff
, who Arena had brought in to fill out the formation, set up Brian McBride
for the winning goal early in the first half. Arena switched the team back to a 4-4-2 for their quarterfinal against Germany, and the team continued to surprise many by dominating stretches of the game. However, they went on to lose 1-0 on a Michael Ballack
header.
The U.S. national squad fell short of expectations at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, finishing last in Group E with losses to the Czech Republic
and Ghana
. The United States scored only twice in its three games, a draw against eventual champion Italy
on an own goal
by Italian Cristian Zaccardo
and a goal from Clint Dempsey
against Ghana. Some, including former team member and ESPN
analyst Eric Wynalda
, have blamed the poor performance on questionable coaching decisions by Arena, including not playing Clint Dempsey
and putting DaMarcus Beasley
on the right wing instead of his favored left against the Czechs, and using a defensive 4-5-1 in the must-win match vs. Ghana which the U.S. eventually lost. Another questionable decision was made when Claudio Reyna
became injured after the first goal when Arena subbed in defensive midfielder Ben Olsen
to replace Reyna.
During his time as national team head coach, the United States rose in the FIFA world rankings from being nineteenth to being fourth, though to the surprise of the U.S. players. Bruce Arena's 71 wins as national coach from 1998-2006 are by far the most in U.S. history, making him arguably the most successful Men's US National Team Coach in history. But three weeks after the Americans' disappointing first-round exit from the World Cup in Germany, the U.S. Soccer Federation
announced that Arena's contract would not be renewed when it expired at the end of 2006. U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati
explained Arena's dismissal, stating that the U.S. was seeking a "fresh approach."
Arena was eventually replaced by his close friend and former assistant at Virginia and D.C. United, Bob Bradley
.
team the New York Red Bulls
. Arena's first match with the club came on August 12, 2006, in a friendly against FC Barcelona
. On November 5, 2007, the New York Red Bulls and Arena decided mutually to part company. During his year-and-a-half with the club, he went 16-16-10. He had two years remaining on his contract with the club.
hired Arena to replace Ruud Gullit
as head coach and Alexi Lalas
as general manager. He inherited a team which had failed to make the playoffs since 2005 and would go on to finish the 2008 season at 8-13-9. The team finished thirteen out of fouteen teams and let in a league high 62 goals to 55 scored. During the off-season, Arena reshaped the defense, drafting Omar Gonzalez
and A. J. DeLaGarza
who became fixtures on the back line, and bringing in Donovan Ricketts
as goalkeeper. While the team scored only 36 goals in 2009, they also let in only 31. This led to a 12-6-12 record and second place finish in the league standings. The Galaxy went to the playoffs and Arena was selected as the MLS Coach of the Year Award
.
The current 2011 Major League Soccer season
is going extremely well for Bruce's Galaxy. His club won the Supporters' Shield for the second straight season and they are only the third team in league history to reach the 60 point plateau. The team has also progressed to the final of the MLS Cup and are through to the elimination round of the CONCACAF Champions League
. The Galaxy were however eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup
in the quarterfinal stage. The club is undefeated in competitive matches at the Home Depot Center this year. Bruce's side even managed a 0-0 draw down a man with a midfielder in goal for 47 minutes against state rivals San Jose
.
On November 20th, 2011 Bruce Arena led the LA Galaxy to the MLS Cup.
Los Angeles Galaxy
, spent time with the U.S. youth national teams as well as in Major League Soccer.
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
player. He is the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Arena has had a long and distinguished coaching career, and is generally considered to be one of the most successful coaches in North American soccer history. He was head coach of the United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
and the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, was head coach of the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, and coached the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
to several college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
championships.
Before beginning his coaching career, Arena was a goalkeeper for Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, and earned one cap with the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
High school and college
Arena grew up in the Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
town of Franklin Square
Franklin Square, New York
Franklin Square is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 29,320 at the 2010 census...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he attended Carey High School
H. Frank Carey Junior/Senior High School
H. Frank Carey High School is a public high school located in Franklin Square, New York serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades from the towns of Garden City South, West Hempstead, Elmont and Franklin Square. The school's principal is Mrs. Valerie Angelillo. The assistant principals...
. While he excelled at several sports, he was too small for American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, so he joined the school's soccer team as a defender. He moved into the goal when the starting goalkeeper was suspended after hitting another school's player during a game. While in high school, he also played a single season with local club Hota S.C. of New York City's Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur soccer league consisting of clubs based in and around New York City. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States and has contributed greatly to the nation's soccer history...
.
After graduation, he began his collegiate athletic career playing both lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
and soccer at Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College is a two-year college. It is located in East Garden City, New York, USA. The school is in Nassau County on Long Island. NCC maintains a nationwide reputation for academic excellence and ease of transferability to four-year institutions.- History :Created as part of the...
, a two year college near his home. Arena was a 1970 and 1971 Honorable Mention All American lacrosse player and an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
soccer player. He was inducted into the National Junior College Hall of Fame in 2008. While at Nassau, he played soccer for head coach Bill Stevenson and goalkeeper coach Shep Messing
Shep Messing
Shep Messing is a former American soccer goalkeeper and current broadcaster. He played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S...
, a future New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
goalkeeper. At the end of his two years with Nassau, Arena transferred to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in upstate New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he was a 1972 Honorable Mention All American and a 1973 Second Team All American in lacrosse. He did not originally intend to play soccer, but injuries to the school's first and second string goalkeepers led to the men's soccer coach, Dan Wood
Dan Wood
Daniel Phillip Wood is a former collegiate and professional soccer coach. He was also a professional golfer who was the top money winner on the 1996 Senior Series.-Youth:...
, to recruit Arena into the team as its goalkeeper. Arena backstopped the Cornell Big Red
Cornell Big Red
The Cornell Big Red is the informal name of the sports teams, and other competitive teams, at Cornell University. The university sponsors 36 varsity sports, as well as numerous intramural and club teams. Cornell participates in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League.The men's and women's hockey...
soccer team to the 1972 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
Final Four and earned Most Valuable Defensive Player honors for the tournament.
Professional
After graduating from Cornell, Arena was draftedDraft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
(but then cut) by the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. Arena then signed to play professional lacrosse for the Montreal Quebecois
Montreal Quebecois
The Montreal Quebecois was a team part of the original National Lacrosse League. They played their home games at the Montreal Forum. The roster included Major League Soccer coach Bruce Arena....
, spending a single season with the team in 1975. The National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League (1974-75)
The National Lacrosse League was a box lacrosse league that lasted two seasons: 1974 and 1975. It is not related to the modern National Lacrosse League....
folded at the end of the 1975 season, leaving Arena unemployed. At the same time, Dan Wood
Dan Wood
Daniel Phillip Wood is a former collegiate and professional soccer coach. He was also a professional golfer who was the top money winner on the 1996 Senior Series.-Youth:...
, who had recruited Arena to play for the Cornell soccer team, had been named the new head coach of the expansion Tacoma Tides
Tacoma Tides
The Tacoma Tides was an American soccer club based in Tacoma, Washington that was a member of the American Soccer League. Although not long-lived, the club is remembered today for its backup goalkeeper--well-known American soccer coach Bruce Arena....
which played in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. Wood contacted Arena and convinced him to move to the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
to play for him. While Arena was the second string goalkeeper behind starter Jamil Canal
Jamil Canal
Jamil Canal, a native of Brazil, spent most of his career as a goalkeeper in the American Soccer League. From 1973 to 1975, he was the ASL All Star goalkeeper while playing with the New York Apollo. In 1976, he moved to the expansion Tacoma Tides...
, the move to Tacoma was significant in that it introduced Arena to coaching. That year, in addition to playing for the Tides, Arena coached the men's soccer team at the University of Puget Sound
University of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound is a private liberal arts college located in the North End of Tacoma, Washington, in the United States...
.
International
In 1973, he earned his only national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
as a second half substitute for Bob Rigby
Bob Rigby
Bob Rigby is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper. Among the most talented soccer goalkeepers born in the United States, Rigby played twelve seasons in the North American Soccer League, three in the Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Western Soccer Alliance and earned six caps with the United...
in a 2-0 loss to Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
. In addition to his single cap with the U.S. soccer team, Arena also played for the national lacrosse team which won the 1974 World Lacrosse Championship
World Lacrosse Championship
The World Lacrosse Championship is the world championship for international men's field lacrosse. From its inception in 1967 through the 2006 event, it was sanctioned by the International Lacrosse Federation...
and finished runner up in 1978.
College
In 1977, Arena moved back to teach at Cornell and act as the school’s assistant lacrosse coach. While he was there, the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(UVA) advertised for two open coaching positions – head soccer coach and assistant lacrosse coach beginning the 1978 season. Arena took that opportunity and would go on to coach both the UVA lacrosse and soccer teams for seven years, before becoming the school’s dedicated soccer coach in 1985. Arena was the head coach of the Virginia program for eighteen years, during which he won five national championships (including 4 straight from 1991–94) and amassed a 295-58-32 record. Additionally, he coached and developed many players at Virginia who would go on to play significant roles in the United States national team, including Claudio Reyna
Claudio Reyna
Claudio Reyna is a retired American soccer player and the current USSF US Youth Soccer Technical Director. He was the captain of the United States national team before retiring from international football following the USA's exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is widely considered one of the...
, Jeff Agoos
Jeff Agoos
Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Agoos is a retired American soccer defender, and one of the all-time appearance leaders for the United States national team....
, John Harkes
John Harkes
John Harkes is an American former soccer player. Harkes was the first American ever to play in the English Premier League, and the second American to score at Wembley Stadium. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He appeared in two FIFA World Cup tournaments, and won two MLS Cup...
and Tony Meola
Tony Meola
Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States national team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and from 1996 to 2006 played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors...
. In addition to coaching, Arena served as the ACC soccer coaches chairman as well as two three-year terms on the NCAA Division I soccer committee from 1989 to 1995.
D.C. United
On January 3, 1996, Arena left UVA to become the coach of D.C. UnitedD.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. The 1996 season would be both the team's and the league's inaugural season, so Arena needed to build a team from scratch. To make his position even more difficult, he had agreed to coach the U.S. U-23 national team at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
where it went 1-1-1. Despite the distraction of the Olympics, Arena managed to form his team and lead United to victory in the first MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
. In addition to the MLS Title, Arena also took United to the 1996 U.S. Open Cup
1996 U.S. Open Cup
- First Round :* El Paso Patriots 3-0 RWB Adria * Carolina Dynamo 5-0 Mo's Sport Shop * Fort Myers Manatees 6-0 St...
championship. Arena and United continued to experience success in 1997. The team won its second MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
defeating the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
2-1. Arena's success led to his selection as the 1997 MLS Coach of the Year
MLS Coach of the Year Award
The MLS Coach of the Year Award is an award given by Major League Soccer to the best coach in any given season. The award has been given since the league's inception in 1996.-Winners:...
. This year, Arena took United to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. In 1998, Arena took United to its third consecutive MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
only to see his team fall to the expansion Chicago Fire led by his protege Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley
Robert "Bob" Bradley is an American soccer coach and the current manager of the Egypt national football team, taking over in September 2011. He previously managed the United States men's national soccer team...
. However, while Arena failed to add another MLS championship to his resume, he guided United to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Toluca
Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
on August 16, 1998. He followed that with a defeat of Brazilian club Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama
Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama |Rowing Club]]), usually known as Vasco da Gama or simply Vasco, is a famous and traditional Brazilian multisports club from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, founded on August 21, 1898...
to take the Interamerican Cup
Copa Interamericana
Copa Interamericana was a football trophy contested between the champions of CONMEBOL's Copa Libertadores de América and the winners of CONCACAF's Champions' Cup...
title. Arena was also the 1997 and 1998 MLS All-Star
Major League Soccer All-Star Game
The MLS All-Star Game is an annual soccer game held by Major League Soccer featuring selected players from the league against various competitors...
head coach.
National Team
Arena was hired by the U.S. national team to replace Steve SampsonSteve Sampson
Steve Sampson is a soccer coach and the former head coach of the United States men's national team and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer...
as head coach in October 1998 following the team's disastrous showing in the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. He forged the team into a successful international side, and is undisputedly the most successful coach in United States history: most international wins; longest home shut-out; best World Cup showing since 1930, reaching the quarterfinals at the 2002 World Cup, before a defeat against Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
; and all-time best international FIFA Ranking
FIFA World Rankings
The FIFA World Rankings is a ranking system for men's national teams in association football, currently led by Spain. The teams of the member nations of FIFA , football's world governing body, are ranked based on their game results with the most successful teams being ranked highest...
(4th place, April 2006). Arena also won two Gold Cup championships in 2002 and 2005, with a third place finish in 2003.
The 2002 World Cup was the high point of Arena's career as the U.S. coach. Heavy underdogs coming into the tournament, they stunned the world by beating a respected Portuguese team
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
3-2 in their opening game. Arena was lauded afterwards for instilling in his players the confidence to play aggressively against an international powerhouse. A hard-fought draw against host nation South Korea was enough to qualify for the second round, despite a poor loss against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
in the final group game. Arena and the U.S. met old nemesis Mexico in the Round of 16, and Arena adapted his tactics brilliantly to secure a 2-0 victory and a quarterfinal berth. The U.S. switched from their usual 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2, and it paid dividends almost immediately when Josh Wolff
Josh Wolff
Joshua David "Josh" Wolff is an American soccer player currently playing for D.C. United of Major League Soccer.-College:...
, who Arena had brought in to fill out the formation, set up Brian McBride
Brian McBride
Brian Robert McBride is a retired American soccer player who finished his career for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer , but spent the majority of his time in MLS playing for the Columbus Crew. For much of his career he played in Europe, notably for Fulham in the English Premier League...
for the winning goal early in the first half. Arena switched the team back to a 4-4-2 for their quarterfinal against Germany, and the team continued to surprise many by dominating stretches of the game. However, they went on to lose 1-0 on a Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack is a German professional footballer, who is currently playing for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of his international team. Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except for Kaiserslautern...
header.
The U.S. national squad fell short of expectations at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, finishing last in Group E with losses to the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
and Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
. The United States scored only twice in its three games, a draw against eventual champion Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
on an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
by Italian Cristian Zaccardo
Cristian Zaccardo
Cristian Zaccardo, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, who plays for Italian Serie A club Parma...
and a goal from Clint Dempsey
Clint Dempsey
Clinton Drew "Clint" Dempsey is an American soccer player who plays for Fulham and the United States national team. Dempsey usually plays as either an attacking midfielder, or a striker....
against Ghana. Some, including former team member and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
analyst Eric Wynalda
Eric Wynalda
Eric Boswell Wynalda is a retired American soccer player, and former sports broadcaster. He was the co-host of Fox Football Fone-In on Fox Soccer Channel and is currently employeed as the president of international operations at Mexican third division club Murcielagos.Wynalda scored the first goal...
, have blamed the poor performance on questionable coaching decisions by Arena, including not playing Clint Dempsey
Clint Dempsey
Clinton Drew "Clint" Dempsey is an American soccer player who plays for Fulham and the United States national team. Dempsey usually plays as either an attacking midfielder, or a striker....
and putting DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Lamont Beasley is an American soccer player who plays for Puebla of the Mexican Primera División. He plays mainly as a winger on the left side of the midfield, but has also been used as a forward and fullback...
on the right wing instead of his favored left against the Czechs, and using a defensive 4-5-1 in the must-win match vs. Ghana which the U.S. eventually lost. Another questionable decision was made when Claudio Reyna
Claudio Reyna
Claudio Reyna is a retired American soccer player and the current USSF US Youth Soccer Technical Director. He was the captain of the United States national team before retiring from international football following the USA's exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is widely considered one of the...
became injured after the first goal when Arena subbed in defensive midfielder Ben Olsen
Ben Olsen
Benjamin Robert "Ben" Olsen is a former American professional soccer player and the current manager of D.C. United. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Olsen grew up playing for FC Delco, an elite club program near Philadelphia...
to replace Reyna.
During his time as national team head coach, the United States rose in the FIFA world rankings from being nineteenth to being fourth, though to the surprise of the U.S. players. Bruce Arena's 71 wins as national coach from 1998-2006 are by far the most in U.S. history, making him arguably the most successful Men's US National Team Coach in history. But three weeks after the Americans' disappointing first-round exit from the World Cup in Germany, the U.S. Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
announced that Arena's contract would not be renewed when it expired at the end of 2006. U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati
Sunil Gulati
Sunil Gulati is the current president of the United States Soccer Federation and special advisor to The Kraft Group and the Kraft family...
explained Arena's dismissal, stating that the U.S. was seeking a "fresh approach."
Arena was eventually replaced by his close friend and former assistant at Virginia and D.C. United, Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley
Robert "Bob" Bradley is an American soccer coach and the current manager of the Egypt national football team, taking over in September 2011. He previously managed the United States men's national soccer team...
.
New York Red Bulls
On July 14, 2006, USSF announced they would not renew Arena's contract with the U.S. national team. As a result, he began to pursue other coaching opportunities. That led to his being hired by Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
team the New York Red Bulls
Red Bull New York
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer team based in Harrison, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The team competes in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. Arena's first match with the club came on August 12, 2006, in a friendly against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. On November 5, 2007, the New York Red Bulls and Arena decided mutually to part company. During his year-and-a-half with the club, he went 16-16-10. He had two years remaining on his contract with the club.
Los Angeles Galaxy
On August 18, 2008, the Los Angeles GalaxyLos Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
hired Arena to replace Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit
OON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the...
as head coach and Alexi Lalas
Alexi Lalas
Panayotis Alexander Lalas is a retired American soccer player who played mostly as a defender for the United States national team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup...
as general manager. He inherited a team which had failed to make the playoffs since 2005 and would go on to finish the 2008 season at 8-13-9. The team finished thirteen out of fouteen teams and let in a league high 62 goals to 55 scored. During the off-season, Arena reshaped the defense, drafting Omar Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez
Omar Gonzalez is an American soccer player. He played youth soccer for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-College:...
and A. J. DeLaGarza
A. J. DeLaGarza
Adolph Joseph DeLaGarza is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
who became fixtures on the back line, and bringing in Donovan Ricketts
Donovan Ricketts
Donovan Ricketts is a Jamaican footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer. He is also the vice captain of the Jamaica national football team.-High School and College:...
as goalkeeper. While the team scored only 36 goals in 2009, they also let in only 31. This led to a 12-6-12 record and second place finish in the league standings. The Galaxy went to the playoffs and Arena was selected as the MLS Coach of the Year Award
MLS Coach of the Year Award
The MLS Coach of the Year Award is an award given by Major League Soccer to the best coach in any given season. The award has been given since the league's inception in 1996.-Winners:...
.
The current 2011 Major League Soccer season
2011 Major League Soccer season
The 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver...
is going extremely well for Bruce's Galaxy. His club won the Supporters' Shield for the second straight season and they are only the third team in league history to reach the 60 point plateau. The team has also progressed to the final of the MLS Cup and are through to the elimination round of the CONCACAF Champions League
2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League
The 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League is the 4th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 26, 2011 and will finish with the second leg of the final April 24–26, 2012. Monterrey is the defending champion...
. The Galaxy were however eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup
2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 98th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October. Seattle Sounders FC, who entered the competition as the two-time defending champions, successfully defended their title again. They became the third team in...
in the quarterfinal stage. The club is undefeated in competitive matches at the Home Depot Center this year. Bruce's side even managed a 0-0 draw down a man with a midfielder in goal for 47 minutes against state rivals San Jose
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
.
On November 20th, 2011 Bruce Arena led the LA Galaxy to the MLS Cup.
Club
D.C. United- MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
(3): 1996, 1997, 2011 - MLS Supporters' ShieldMLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
(1): 1997 - MLS Eastern ConferenceMLS Eastern ConferenceThe Eastern Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences.-Current members:*Chicago Fire*Columbus Crew*D.C. United*Houston Dynamo*New England Revolution*New York Red Bulls*Philadelphia Union*Sporting Kansas City*Toronto FC...
(3): 1996, 1997, 1998 - U.S. Open Cup (1): 1996
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup (1): 1998
Los Angeles Galaxy
- MLS Western ConferenceMLS Western ConferenceThe Western Conference is one of Major League Soccer's two conferences.-Current members:*Chivas USA*Colorado Rapids*FC Dallas*Los Angeles Galaxy*Portland Timbers*Real Salt Lake*San Jose Earthquakes*Seattle Sounders FC*Vancouver Whitecaps FC...
(2): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
, 20112011 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver... - MLS Supporters' ShieldMLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
(2): 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...
, 20112011 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver... - MLS CupMLS CupThe MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
(1): 2011MLS Cup 2011The 2011 MLS Cup Final was the sixteenth edition of the MLS Cup championship match held in the United States and Canada. The match was played on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California...
Personal
Arena's son, Kenny ArenaKenny Arena
Kenneth Scott "Kenny" Arena is a former soccer defender who is currently an assistant coach with the UCLA Bruins. Arena is the son of former United States men's national soccer team coach Bruce Arena....
, spent time with the U.S. youth national teams as well as in Major League Soccer.
External links
- Profile at soccertimes.com
- ESPN feature on Arena, part I (part II) by Marc Connolly
- Sports Illustrated profile by Grant WahlGrant WahlGrant Wahl is an American sports journalist who is best known for being a writer for Sports Illustrated. He is also the author of the controversial book, The Beckham Experiment.-Career:...
- Associated Press profile by Ronald Blum
- Article on Arena's visit to boyhood sites by Michael Lewis
- Los Angeles Galaxy Head Coach