Jan. 4, 1996 – Frank Stapleton named Revolution’s first coach

Today in New England Soccer History.

Jan. 4, 1996 – Frank Stapleton named Revolution’s first coach.

The Revolution were the last MLS team to choose a coach before the inaugural season. And Stapleton was their final interview, after Osvaldo Ardiles and Brian Quinn. Ardiles had an opportunity in Japan, so would not have come cheaply.

Stapleton came highly recommended and tried to assemble a team around allocated players Mike Burns and Alexi Lalas. Stapleton and general manager Brian O’Donovan made strong bids for Leonel Alvarez and Brian McBride, and behind the scenes tried for players such as Manny Lagos and Tony Sanneh, but ended up mostly empty-handed. Stapleton, though, clashed with Lalas early on, and their differences were never resolved. Eventually, Lalas and defender Iain Fraser were among the Revolution players requesting trades, and Stapleton resigned after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Here is my story that ran in 1/5/1996 editions of the Boston Globe:

FOXBOROUGH – When Frank Stapleton viewed the Nov. 15 European Championship qualifying match between Holland and the Republic of Ireland, he had no doubt about the outcome. The Dutch dominated the contest with a pressuring defense and highly technical players constantly in attack mode, controlling the ball with a short passing game.

That is the style Stapleton hopes to bring to the New England Revolution, who introduced him as their head coach with a two-year contract yesterday.

Though the Revolution, a fledgling franchise in Major League Soccer, have played heavily on Stapleton’s nationality, the team will likely exhibit more versatility and variety in its style when it debuts in April.

“I was embarrassed, ashamed really,” Stapleton said of Ireland’s 2-0 loss to Holland. “I was convinced we’d gotten it all wrong and we’d gone backwards. There was no chance Ireland was going to win that game playing kick and rush. The Dutch were better in every way.”

Though Stapleton, 39, is a Dublin native and achieved most of his playing success in England, he draws on other tactical influences — especially those of the Dutch club Ajax, which won the world club championship last month.

“Ideally, I’d like to play like Ajax or Milan,” Stapleton said during a press conference at Foxboro Stadium. “That will take a lot of time and patience. But you’ve got to aim for the stars and maybe you’ll reach the sky.”

Stapleton was selected over Argentine Osvaldo Ardiles, a former English League rival, and Brian Quinn, a former US national team midfielder. His assistant coach will be Ron McEachen, who resigned as coach at the University of Vermont.

“This has been a long process and we are delighted that it is drawing to a close,” general manager Brian O’Donovan said. “We were looking for a professional who understands adversity. It is important that he understand the challenges ahead.”

The Revolution became the last of the 10 teams in the MLS to announce a coach. O’Donovan and franchise owners Jonathan and Robert Kraft began interviewing candidates in September and had considered high-profile coaches such as Jack Charlton of the Irish national team.

Stapleton was the last candidate interviewed. He arrived in Boston for a 24-hour period just before Christmas, having been recommended by John Curtis, owner of the Cape Cod Crusaders of the US Interregional Soccer League.

Stapleton played for Charlton and is Ireland’s all-time leading scorer with 20 goals in 71 games. Stapleton also played for seven English League clubs, gaining most of his glory with Arsenal and Manchester United, and was player-manager for Bradford City and Huddersfield Town.

He is the son of a dockworker from the north side of Dublin, played Gaelic football and soccer as a youngster, then became one of the best goal scorers in England.

Stapleton joined Ajax in 1988 when Johan Cruyff “wanted an English-style forward.” His season was limited to four games because of injury, then Cruyff departed for Barcelona, so Stapleton went to Le Havre in France for a year. But the Ajax system left a strong impression.

“Frank is an excellent person to deal with, very open-minded,” said Jaap de Groot, a writer for De Telegraaf in Amsterdam. “He will maybe surprise you as a manager because he has played three different styles.

“But with the Ajax style, it’s useless to just copy it. With Ajax, they have had the same philosophy for many years and the coaches have always believed in the vision. The entire club has to believe in it, develop players for it and be committed to it.”

The playing style and identity of the Revolution will evolve as the team begins adding players. Only Mike Burns and Alexi Lalas have been assigned to the squad, and both departed yesterday to join the US national team in preparation for the Gold Cup continental championships in California.

“I’ve learned how to be a professional soccer player in Italy,” said Lalas, who will return to Padova this month. “This league will give American players that same opportunity.”

O’Donovan and Stapleton will choose most of their players from an MLS scouting combine starting today in Irvine, Calif.

The MLS has signed 129 players, including Colombian national team midfielder Leonel Alvarez of America de Cali, who was announced yesterday.