Bruce Arena speaks publicly for the first time since Revolution controversy, weighs in on Gio Reyna

Former New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena has broken his silence, speaking for the first time about his departure from Major League Soccer last year amidst allegations of “inappropriate and insensitive remarks.”

Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s “Kickin’ it,” Arena said he took responsibility for his actions but also said he “had to be reserved” in what he could say about the specific nature of his resignation. He called the entire experience “hurtful,” and said he has had no contact with executives at the Revolution since his departure.

“If there’s a time where I can legally (share the specifics of the investigation), I will do it,” Arena told CBS Sports’ Kate Abdo, who hosts the program alongside former US men’s national team members Clint Dempsey, Charlie Davies and Maurice Edu. “I would welcome that.”

Arena, the winningest head coach in MLS history, resigned from the Revolution last September after he was placed on administrative leave and later investigated by the league. At the time, Arena released a statement saying that he’d “made some mistakes” and would be reflecting on them moving forward. Alongside his resignation, MLS announced that “certain” allegations were confirmed and that Arena would have to submit a petition to the commissioner if he should pursue future employment within the league.

Arena did so and said that he has since received interest from multiple teams. It was reported that Arena spoke informally with D.C. United last year when that club was looking for a new head coach.

“I’ve had conversations,” said Arena. “There was a little miscommunication in the league about my status. I was cleared (to return) in December. And no one knew that.”

Arena’s departure from the Revolution was shrouded in secrecy; even inside the Revolution locker room itself, many players reportedly did not know why Arena was under investigation. During the incident, the Revolution’s players refused to train until they were given an explanation.

“The players know what went on,” Arena said when asked by Davies whether he had a message for the American soccer community at large. “Because of legal restrictions, I can’t talk. The message to the people of New England is ‘I miss you.’ The people in Boston were great to me, wonderful people. The players were great, so I enjoyed my time there. I’m disappointed in the way things ended and how they ended. But I don’t have control of that.”

Arena, 72, told the program’s hosts he has “an interest in one more challenge” and suggested he’d also received interest from European teams. When asked whether the nature of his resignation from New England contributed to his desire to continue coaching, the former Revolution coach said it certainly did.

“If that’s the ending,” Arena said, “that’s a slap in the face.”

Arena, who coached the U.S. men’s national team at two World Cups and later through the tail end of their ill-fated 2018 qualification campaign, touched on several other topics in the wide-ranging interview. He was asked about the drama surrounding USMNT midfielder Gio Reyna at the 2022 World Cup, where Reyna struggled to find time on the field during the tournament under current USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter. It was later revealed that Reyna’s parents, including former USMNT midfielder Claudio Reyna, had reported Berhalter to U.S. Soccer over decades-old allegations of domestic violence.

“I can’t even begin to understand that,” said Arena. “I really can’t. It’s classic youth sports, you see the parents getting involved and all of that. You would never think that that happens at the professional level. There are certainly grudges, it’s human nature and all, but it doesn’t get out like that.”

Arena, who managed the national team to its best-ever finish at a modern World Cup in 2002, listed Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie as standout players on the current USMNT.

“Gio is a good player,” said Arena, “but he has to prove something. He hasn’t played at the club level. He still doesn’t have much of a resume at the international level. … I think there are more quality players now than ever before. (But) you need those players with (Dempsey’s) attitude. We need guys that can compete and that are fighting for 90 minutes on the field. We need some tougher guys. They wouldn’t beat the 2002 team, the current team.”

(Top photo: Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports)