Caleb Porter, the recently appointed head coach of the New England Revolution, is confident that his team can compete for trophies in the Eastern Conference in his first season at the helm. Porter’s arrival at Gillette Stadium is expected to continue the Revs’ recent success, which includes their 2021 Supporters’ Shield triumph and the development of top talents like Matt Turner and Djordje Petrovic, both of whom have earned transfers to the Premier League.
Despite his last coaching job with the Columbus Crew not ending as expected, Porter has a history of winning, having guided Columbus to MLS Cup glory in 2020 and led the Portland Timbers to a championship in 2015. With this winning experience, Porter believes that the Revs won’t need a transition period to compete during his tenure.
“It feels great to be here. Obviously, there’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m extremely excited to hit the ground running, and I think we can hit the ground running. When we look at the club – the strong foundation that’s in place, the roster … it’s only a couple of years after a Supporters’ Shield win – that’s a big allure for me,” he said in a release.
Former head coach Bruce Arena brought New England great success, but he wasn’t able to lead them to an MLS Cup title. Porter is looking to make history by becoming the first coach to achieve this feat.
“I’m a coach that likes to win, and I want to win an MLS Cup in New England – the first ever. Through the interview process, I was immediately pleased and connected, meeting the people – Curt Onalfo and I were immediately very much aligned from a vision and values standpoint; I had the opportunity to meet with Brian Bilello, and the Kraft Family, as well,” he said.
Expectations will be high for Porter to deliver to the New England faithful, who have won just two trophies since the club’s inception in 1996. But Porter will look to make changes after stepping aside from the touchline for one year.
“I can’t wait to start. I had a year off – time to reflect, and learn and grow – and wanted to hopefully have the opportunity to take on a new project,” Porter added.
“I didn’t know where I’d end up but as soon as New England was open and available, and I had the opportunity to interview, it was my number one choice. When you look at the openings that were there, it was the best club available in my opinion. I feel lucky and honored to have this job – it’s not something I take lightly. I’m going to work tirelessly to make the fans happy.”
In conclusion, Porter’s confidence and winning pedigree bring hope to the New England Revolution and their fans, as they look to compete for major trophies under his leadership. His ambition to make history and achieve success in New England will be closely followed by fans and pundits alike.
