The New York Red Bulls of the MLS announced today that they have hired Bruce Arena ’73 as their head coach and sporting director just five days after the U.S. Soccer Federation announced it would not renew the contract of the former men’s national team head coach.
Arena will officially take his place on the sidelines August 12 when the Red Bulls face UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelone at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Red Bulls are currently coached by Richie Williams, who has been filling in on an interim basis since former head coach Mo Johnston was fired on June 27. Arena will take over a struggling squad that is 3-6-8 this season and stand in last place in the Eastern Conference with 17 points.
Arena is the most successful coach ever to have led the men’s national team, posting a 71-30-29 record over the course of his eight-year tenure and leading the U.S. to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. Most recently, his team was eliminated in group play at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. His coaching resume includes five NCAA championships at the helm of the Virginia men’s team, and two MLS titles and a CONCACAF Champions Cup with the D.C. United of the MLS.
During his time as an undergraduate at Cornell, Arena was a second-team All-American in lacrosse and an All-Ivy selection as a goaltender for the men’s lacrosse team.