The New England Revolution have placed coach and general manager Bruce Arena on administrative leave pending an MLS review into “allegations of insensitive and inappropriate remarks,” the team said Tuesday.
“The organization takes any allegations of workplace misconduct extremely seriously and is working closely with the league and fully cooperating with its investigation,” the Revolution said.
Arena was not present at team activities Sunday and Monday, according to multiple sources around the team. Players were told Sunday that Arena, the two-time U.S. men’s national team coach, would not be present for an unspecified amount of time and that technical director Curt Onalfo and assistant coach Richie Williams would be in charge for the interim. They were also told it was not a health issue for Arena.
The Revs play Thursday in the Leagues Cup Round of 32 against Liga MX side Atlas.
Arena’s agent did not immediately return a request for comment.
Statement from MLS on New England Revolution Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena. pic.twitter.com/9No8sZDEkO
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) August 1, 2023
Last season, Arena became the winningest coach in MLS history and the first to 250 career wins. He is the most decorated coach in league history, with five MLS Cups (1996, 1997, 2011, 2012, 2014), four MLS Coach of the Year honors and four MLS Supporters’ Shields across tenures with D.C. United, New York Red Bulls, LA Galaxy and New England.
He also coached the U.S. men’s national team in three World Cup cycles, leading the U.S. to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in South Korea/Japan in 2002 and then staying on through Germany in 2006. He also took over the team partway through qualifying in the 2018 cycle in which the U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Arena, who is in his fourth season in New England, has a 262-152-131 career record in MLS. The Revs sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 12-4-7 record.
One of the more well-known and outspoken personalities in the league, Arena’s influence can be seen through MLS coaching staffs and front offices. Those who have worked for or played under him include former U.S., Egypt, Swansea and LAFC coach Bob Bradley, current U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter, and FC Cincinnati’s Chris Albright and Pat Noonan.
(Photo: Winslow Townson / USA Today)