The 2002 New England Revolution season was the seventh season for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS). The club reached the playoffs after finishing first in the Eastern Conference. The Revolution also reached the MLS Cup, where they lost to the LA Galaxy at home.
Summary
Prior to the start of the 2002 Major League Soccer season, the Tampa Bay Mutiny and the Miami Fusion ceased operations. This resulted in drafts to disperse players from those clubs around the league. By this method the Revolution received aseveral players; including 2000 MLS Scoring Champion Mamadou Diallo, two-time MLS Best XI and two-time All-Star Steve Ralston, and 2001 MLS Best-XI defender Carlos Llamosa. The club were also able to add 2000 MLS SuperDraft third-overall pick Adin Brown. The Revolution continued to bolster its roster in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, where they selected striker Taylor Twellman and midfielder Shalrie Joseph; both Twellman and Joseph would go on to become major figures in the club's history in the coming seasons.
The Revolution lost its first two games of the season, then recorded a draw and a win prior to its home opener, and first-ever match, at the newly completed CMGI Field; they won 2-0 in that match over the Dallas Burn, with both goals being scored by second-overall SuperDraft pick Taylor Twellman. Following a 5-2 win on May 22 against the Colorado Rapids, the Revolution parted ways with head coach Fernando Clavijo, who was replaced by Revolution assistant coach and former Liverpool F.C. player Steve Nicol on an interim basis. Nicol had previously coached the Revolution on an interim basis in 1999. Nicol's Revolution recorded their first win two days later, but struggled through the months of June and July, losing ten of fourteen matches. They closed out the regular season on a six game unbeaten stretch and finished atop of the Eastern Conference standings despite a losing record of 12–14–2.
In the MLS Cup Playoffs, New England defeated the Chicago Fire in the quarterfinals, the club's first playoff series victory. The Revolution then recorded a series victory over Columbus in the Eastern Conference Championship to advance to MLS Cup 2002, which was to be hosted at their home stadium, Gillette Stadium. An MLS Cup Playoffs record crowd of 61,316 saw the Revolution lose 1–0 to the LA Galaxy on a golden goal in the 113th minute.
After earning the MLS Coach of the Year Award, the Revolution named Nicol the permanent head coach of the team on November 6.
Roster
Players
As of August 6, 2002.
Coaches and staff
New England Revolution – 2002 Coaches and Staff Name Title Fernando Clavijo Head coach Steve Nicol Interim Head Coach John Murphy Assistant Coach Matt Driver Interim Assistant Coach
Front office
New England Revolution – 2002 Front Office Name Title Robert Kraft Investor and Operator Jonathan Kraft Investor and Operator Todd Smith General Manager Sunil Gulati Managing Director, Kraft Soccer
Notes
1 Until May 23, 2002 2 Named head coach on November 6, 2002 3 Named assistant coach on June 6, 2002
Player transactions
New England Revolution – 2002 Transfers In Name Position Date Method Fee Previous club Reference Jim Rooney MF January 11, 2002 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft N/A Miami Fusion Álex Pineda Chacón MF January 11, 2002 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft N/A Miami Fusion Shaker Asad MF January 11, 2002 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft N/A Miami Fusion Mamadou Diallo FW January 11, 2002 2002 MLS Allocation Draft N/A Tampa Bay Mutiny Carlos Llamosa DF January 11, 2002 2002 MLS Allocation Draft N/A Miami Fusion Steve Ralston MF January 11, 2002 2002 MLS Allocation Draft N/A Tampa Bay Mutiny Adin Brown GK January 15, 2002 Free Agent N/A Tampa Bay Mutiny Taylor Twellman FW February 10, 2002 2002 MLS SuperDraft N/A TSV 1860 Munich II Shalrie Joseph MF February 10, 2002 2002 MLS SuperDraft N/A New York Freedom Derek Potteiger MF February 10, 2002 2002 MLS SuperDraft N/A Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer Marshall Leonard MF February 10, 2002 2002 MLS SuperDraft N/A Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer Carlos Semedo MF April 1, 2002 Undisclosed N/A ??? Ian Fuller FW April 30, 2002 2002 MLS SuperDraft N/A Clemson Tigers men's soccer Diego Serna FW May 24, 2002 Trade MetroStars Brian Kamler MF May 24, 2002 Trade MetroStars Daniel Hernandez MF May 24, 2002 Trade MetroStars Daouda Kanté DF July 20, 2002 Waiver Claim N/A D.C. United Winston Griffiths MF July 30, 2002 Waiver Claim N/A LA Galaxy
New England Revolution – 2002 Transfers In Name Position Date Method Fee Next Club ReferenceShaun Tsakiris MF April 25, 2002 Waived N/A Rochester Raging Rhinos Mamadou Diallo FW May 24, 2002 Traded MetroStars Andy Williams MF May 24, 2002 Traded MetroStars Ted Chronopoulos MF May 24, 2004 Traded MetroStars Carlos Semedo MF July 18, 2002 Waived N/A ??? Scott Powers MF July 19, 2002 Waived N/A ??? Shaker Asad MF November 4, 2002 Waived N/A Atlanta Silverbacks FC Ian Fuller FW November 4, 2002 Waived N/A Rochester Raging Rhinos Juergen Sommer GK November 4, 2002 Waived N/A N/A
Notes
1. On May 24, 2002, the Revolution traded Mamadou Diallo, Ted Chronopoulos, and Andy Williams to the MetroStars in exchange for Diego Serna, Brian Kamler, and Daniel Hernandez.
Competitions Major League Soccer
Standings Conference
Overall
Match results
Regular season
Carlos Semedo Jay Heaps Jim Rooney Nick Downing |team2 = Columbus Crew |goals2 = Daniel Torres Chad McCarty Chris Leitch Edson Bubble |stadium = CMGI Field |aet = |location = Foxborough, Massachusetts |attendance = 7,701 |referee = Ricardo Salazar |motm = |mvp = |note =
MLS Playoffs
Awards
Adapted from 2024 New England Revolution Media Guide (pg. 326–328)
League awards
New England Revolution – 2002 League Awards Honor NameMLS Most Valuable Player Taylor Twellman (finalist)MLS Scoring Champion Taylor Twellman (52 pts; 23g, 6a)MLS Coach of the Year Steve NicolMLS Best XI Steve Ralston, Taylor TwelmanMLS Player of the Month Taylor Twellman (May)MLS Player of the Week Taylor Twellman (week 6, Week 25)MLS All-Stars Carlos Llamosa, Steve Ralston, Jurgen Sommer, Taylor TwellmanMLS Play of the Year Taylor TwellmanMLS Goal of the Year Taylor Twellman (finalist)
Team awards
New England Revolution – 2002 Team Awards Honor NameRevolution Most Valuable Player Taylor TwellmanRevolution Scoring Champion Taylor Twellman Revolution Defender of the Year Joe Franchino Revolution Humanitarian of the Year Brian Kamler
References