The 1999 New England Revolution season was the fourth season for the New England Revolution both as a club and in Major League Soccer (MLS). As the club did not participate in the 1999 U.S. Open Cup, and did not qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, they participated only in the MLS regular season.
Summary
At the end of the 1998 season, Walter Zenga made history by becoming the league's fist-ever player-manager. Zenga's Revolution showed their intent to return to the playoffs for the first time since 1997 by signing former United States men's national soccer team captain John Harkes, and 1996 MLS All-Stars Giovanni Savarese and Dan Calichman prior to the 1999 Major League Soccer season. Zenga's Revolution got its first win on April 3. The team made several acquisitions in mid-season, including then-highest-paid MLS player of all time Ariel Graziani, two-time MLS Cup champion Mario Gori, two-time MLS All-Star Leonel Alvarez, and Jeff Baicher, but were unable to make a run, going on a ten-game winless streak from early July to early September, then winning only two of their final six matches to round out the season. On September 30, following a loss to the Dallas Burn, the Revolution made a late-season coaching change (for the second year in a row) as Zenga was relieved of his playing and coaching duties and replaced by Steve Nicol for the team's final two matches.
Despite poor on-field performance, fan support remained strong for the Revolution. The club's average home attendance of 16,735 was fourth-highest in the league. Joe-Max Moore's 15 goals tied him for fourth-highest total in the league with San Jose's Ronald Cerritos. Moore, Harkes, and Zenga were all named to the 1999 MLS All-Star Game. Despite these accolades, the Revolution would miss the playoffs for the second season in a row, recording a record of 7 wins and 20 losses, placing fifth in the Eastern Conference and 10th in the overall MLS table.
Squad
First Team Squad The New England Revolution's 1999 roster adapted from the document "Club History: All-Time Results".
Player movement
New England Revolution – 1999 Transfers In Name Position Date Method Fee Previous club Reference Dan Calichman D January 5, 1999 Trade N/A LA Galaxy Giovanni Savarese F January 20, 1999 Trade N/A MetroStars Leighton O’Brien M February 7, 1999 SuperDraft N/A San Diego Toreros Chris Fox D February 7, 1999 SuperDraft N/A Brown University Paulo Dos Santos M March 12, 1999 Free Transfer N/A Rhode Island Stingrays John Harkes M March 16, 1999 Return from Loan N/A Nottingham Forest Tony Kuhn F April 5, 1999 Waiver Claim N/A Chicago Fire Carlos Parra M June 4, 1999 Trade N/A Miami Fusion Chaka Daley D June 14, 1999 Free Transfer N/A Boston Bulldogs Mario Gori D June 22, 1999 Trade N/A Miami Fusion Ariel Graziani F July 26, 1999 Allocation N/A Monarcas Morelia Leonel Alvarez M August 13, 1999 Trade N/A Dallas Burn Jeff Baicher M August 13, 1999 Trade N/A San Jose Clash Eduardo Hurtado F December 3, 1999 Waiver Claim N/A MetroStars Mauricio Ramos M December 6, 1999 Trade N/A Tampa Bay Mutiny
New England Revolution – 1999 Transfers Out Name Position Date Method Fee Next Club Reference Ian Feuer GK February 24, 1999 Trade N/A Colorado Rapids Chris Fox M March 30, 1999 Waived N/A Boston Bulldogs Leighton O'Brien M March 30, 1999 Waived N/A San Jose Clash Carlos Rocha F March 30, 1999 Waived N/A Boston Bulldogs Tony Kuhn F June 4, 1999 Traded N/A Miami Fusion Manny Motajo D June 14, 1999 Waived N/A N/A Edwin Gorter M June 22, 1999 Traded N/A Miami Fusion Ariel Graziani F August 13, 1999 Traded N/A Dallas Burn Jair M August 13, 1999 Traded N/A San Jose Clash Walter Zenga GK September 30, 1999 "Relieved" N/A N/A Joe-Max More F November 11, 1999 Free Transfer N/A Everton F.C. Mario Gori D November 22, 1999 Waived N/A Columbus Crew Chaka Daley D November 22, 1999 Waived N/A N/A Kris Kelderman M December 1, 1999 Waived N/A Milwaukee Wave
Notes
League and Team Awards
New England Revolution – 2001 League Awards Award Player(s) Winner / Finalist Reference MLS All-Stars John Harkes, Walter Zenga, Joe-Max Moore Winner MLS Player of the Week Ivan McKiley (Week 8), Giovanni Savarese (Week 11, Week 26), Joe-Max Moore (Week 14) Winner
New England Revolution – 2001 Team Awards Award Player(s) Winner / Finalist Reference Revolution MVP Joe-Max Moore Winner Revolution Scoring Champion Joe-Max Moore (15g, 8a) Winner Revolution Defender of the Year Dan Calichman Winner
Annual Leaders
Source:
Games Played: Ted Chronopoulos (31) Games Started: Ted Chronopoulos (31) Goals: Joe-Max Moore (15) Assists: Joe-Max Moore, John Harkes (8) Shots: Joe-Max Moore (83) Shots on Goal: Joe-Max Moore (47) Fouls Committed: Joe-Max Moore (49) Fouls Suffered: Joe-Max Moore (66)
Standings
Eastern Conference
Overall standings
Results
Regular season
References