Oct. 2, 1999 – Steve Nicol’s first win as Revolution coach

The Revolution had been struggling under Walter Zenga, who was in a player-coach role. Zenga had hoped to start preparing for the 2000 season, proposing to bring in Pelé’s son, Edinho, at goalkeeper, among other changes. But after a loss to the Dallas Burn, general manager Brian O’Donovan replaced Zenga with interim coach Steve Nicol, a former Liverpool star who had been player-coach with the Boston Bulldogs.Oct. 2, 1999 – Revolution 2:1 NY/NJ MetroStars at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 21,335)

Nicol guided the Revolution to a draw and shootout win over D.C. United the next week and was offered the head coaching position on a full-time basis. But Nicol declined, preferring to return to the Framingham-based Bulldogs to acquire more experience. Nicol returned to the Revolution as an assistant in 2002, again being named interim coach after the firing of Fernando Clavijo, and remaining in charge through the 2011 season.

The Revolution lineup in this match included current general manager Mike Burns; Toronto FC assistant Dan Calichman; plus three who have gone on to coaching success – current Cerro Porteño coach Leonel Alvarez (2009 Liga Postobon champion with Independiente), John Harkes (Cincinnati FC) and Giovanni Savarese (two-time NASL champion with the New York Cosmos).

Sept. 24, 1999 – Revolution 0:1 Dallas Burn at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 9,273)

Current FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja scored off a 70^th-minute goal off an assist from current Orlando City SC coach Jason Kreis. Pareja played for the Revolution in 1998 and Kreis had been considered a candidate to be selected by the Revolution in the initial MLS player draft in 1996, the team passing him by until the Burn selected him in the fifth round. The Revolution went for Iain Fraser, Peter Woodring, Franklin Pierce’s Bojan Vukovic and Marquis White in the first four rounds. Chris Aduama photos

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY