Aug. 13, 1997 – Revolution reacquire Giuseppe Galderisi, plus Ivan McKinley, in trade with Tampa Bay

The Revolution sent Chiquinho Conde and Sam George to the Tampa Bay Mutiny, the deal appearing to help motivate the team as it made a late run to earn its first playoff berth in the second season of MLS. Paul Keegan’s 88^th-minute goal in a 2-1 win over the Dallas Burn clinched a post-season place for the Revolution on Sept. 25, 1997, the final day of the season. Galderisi had been a member of the original Revolution team in 1996, but clashed with coach Frank Stapleton and was sent to Tampa Bay, where he played under Thomas Rongen. The Revolution hired Rongen to replace Stapleton for their second season, and Rongen pushed for a trade that would reunite him with Galderisi and McKinley. Galderisi, who had won Serie A scudetti with Juventus (twice) and Verona and played in the 1986 World Cup with Italy, teamed with Alexi Lalas at Padova late in his career, both joining the Revolution in ’96. Galderisi returned as an assistant coach to Walter Zenga in 1999, turning down a chance to take over as head coach after Zenga was dismissed with two games remaining in the season (Steve Nicol was named interim coach). Galderisi went on to coach several teams in Italy and Portugal, including Lucchese last season. McKinley, the Revolution’s only South African player, totaled 80 appearances and 13 goals, playing several positions, through the 2000 season.

Chiquinho Conde went on to coach Mozambique’s national team and win the Moçambola title, guiding Ferroviario.

Two years later, the Revolution added Leonel Alvarez, who would also go on to coaching success. Alvarez won the 2009 Colombian championship coaching Deportivo Independiente Medellin (yes, he tried to move Jackson Martinez to MLS, but no takers), and briefly guided the Colombian national team.

Aug. 13, 1999 – Revolution acquire Leonel Alvarez from Dallas in trade for Ariel Graziani. Jeff Baicher acquired from San Jose in trade for Jair

Baicher scored once for the Revolution, a spectacular, long-range 53^rd-minute drive in a 2-1 win over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars before a 21,335 crowd at Foxboro Stadium on Oct. 2, 1999.

George also played for the Chicago Fire in MLS.

Graziani started his career in Argentina and had been a top-level scorer in Ecuador and Mexico, but played only three games for the Revolution before going on to total 44 goals in four seasons with Dallas and San Jose. Graziani was among a group of strikers the Revolution failed to get the best out of (including Mamadou Diallo, Eric Wynalda, et al.). Graziani was still scoring goals for LDU Quito and said he was willing to return to MLS when I met him during a Revolution preseason trip to Ecuador in 2005.

Jair (Anselmo Ribeiro), who was born in Cape Verde and grew up in Roxbury, playing at Madison Park High School. Jair, a playmaking midfielder, began his career with Sporting CP’s junior teams and competed with Alverca, Olhanense and CSKA Sofia before joining the Revolution in 1998.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY