Jan. 11, 2002 – Revolution transformed by Dispersal Draft

Today in NE Soccer History

Jan. 11, 2002 – Revolution acquire Mamadou Diallo, Carlos Llamosa, Steve Ralston, Jim Rooney, Alex Pineda Chacon, Shaker Asad in MLS Dispersal Draft

The New England Revolution transformed themselves over a one-month span in 2002.

On Jan. 8, 2002, the league announced the elimination of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny. That set up the Revolution for a bonanza as they had three of the first six picks in the dispersal draft.

Coach Fernando Clavijo and the Revolution struggled through a dismal 2001 season. But the timing of their failure worked out, since it placed them in an advantageous position for acquiring players via MLS regulations. Clavijo and Revolution administrators anticipated the demise of the Florida teams, clearing roster and salary cap space to accommodate newcomers. A week after the draft, the Revolution picked up goalkeeper Adin Brown from Tampa Bay, and in February selected Taylor Twellman and Shalrie Joseph in the MLS draft.

The day after the draft, my Boston Globe story noted: “Florida’s loss was definitely the Revolution’s gain. The Revolution went from a non-playoff team to having a potentially powerful team that could contend for the MLS title.”

Which is just what the Revolution did for the next several years, reaching four of the next six MLS Cup finals, though their ascent owed as much to good fortune and randomness as to application and planning.

Also in the 1/11/2002 editions of my Boston Globe story (below) the Revolution announced Steve Nicol would replace Jorge Espinoza as assistant coach:

Senegalese striker Mamadou Diallo is expected to be the first pick in the Major League Soccer dispersal draft today, but several teams, including the Revolution, are hoping to maneuver into position to acquire Diallo.

The Colorado Rapids have the No. 1 choice of players from the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny, which were disbanded earlier this week. Diallo scored 27 goals in 28 games with Carlos Valderrama directing the Mutiny attack two years ago, and could be reunited with Valderrama and coach Tim Hankinson in Denver.

But Diallo is hoping to remain on the East Coast, according to agent Patrick McCabe of Bob Woolf Associates.

“I have had six coaches call me saying they want to accommodate Mamadou,” McCabe said. “Mamadou would prefer a city such as Boston, New York, or Washington.”

The Revolution will have the Nos. 2, 5, and 6 choices in the draft. They could also opt for defenders Carlos Llamosa and Pablo Mastroeni; midfielder Ian Bishop; or strikers Alex Pineda Chacon and Diego Serna.

“We are in a better position than anybody else, but since we don’t have the first pick I can’t say what we are going to do,” Revolution coach Fernando Clavijo said. “If we had the first pick I would announce it now. Mamadou is a great player and it is great that he is thinking about coming to New England. But Colorado has the first pick and we have to wait to see what they are going to do with it.”

The Rapids have been negotiating with Nigerian striker Daniel Amokachi, who is available on a free transfer.

The Revolution announced the signing of former Liverpool star Steve Nicol as assistant coach.