Aug. 24, 2014 – Jermaine Jones assigned to Revolution as DP

On Aug. 8, 2014, the Revolution announced they had put in a claim for Jermaine Jones and, 16 days later, team president Brian Bilello received a call confirming Jones as a Revolution player. The Revolution had taken a 1-0 win over Chivas USA on Aug. 23, 2014 and, the next day, a “blind draw” (Chicago and New England the candidates) for Jones’ rights was held in MLS offices in New York. Jones arrived from his home in Los Angeles and played as a second-half substitute for Daigo Kobayashi as the Revolution took a 3-1 victory at Toronto FC on Aug. 30, his first action since the World Cup. Jones proved to be the spark as the Revolution went on a 9W-1L-2D run to conclude the regular season, then advance to their fifth MLS Cup final.

Though Jones had been a high-profile holding midfielder in European professional leagues since 2001, he had not been on MLS radar screens until being recruited to the U.S. national team by coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Then, MLS was unwilling to match his 2 million-plus euro salary – until Jones led the U.S. to a second-round appearance in the 2014 World Cup. Jones had been given a free-ranging role by Klinsmann and he had helped elevate the team with tactical sense, combined with hard running and tackling, plus the ability to spread the field with pinpoint passing to the wings.

Jones brought these qualities to the Revolution, but was apparently slowed by injuries in a 2-1 extra time loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup final, and played in a total of only 34 games in two seasons (including playoffs). Chris Aduama photo

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