Nicol, Revolution Part Ways
FOXBORO (CBS) - Head coach Steve Nicol and the New England Revolution have agreed to part ways.
Nicol leaves the Revolution after 10 seasons, a league record for tenure with a single club. He posted a career record of 112-108-81, ranking second in Major League Soccer in overall career games coached (301) and fourth in wins.
Nicol met with the Kraft family on Monday, and both sides agreed it was time to go in a different direction.
"I'm very thankful to the Krafts for giving me the opportunity to be their head coach," Nicol said in a release. "I've had some great times and been involved with some great players and great people. My family will always remain part of the Kraft family."
"Robert and I met with Stevie today and we had a productive discussion about this past season and the direction the club needs to go in the future," said Jonathan Kraft. "We all agreed a change of direction was needed to reverse the trend of the past couple of years."
"Stevie was a successful head coach and a tremendous ambassador for the Revolution for the past decade and set a high standard for success, leading us to four conference titles in six years," said Kraft. "We thank him for all of his contributions."
Nicol took the Revolution to six successive MLS Eastern Conference Championship matches from 2002 through 2007, winning four to advance to MLS Cup four times (2002, 2005-07).
He also led the team to its first-ever cup championship, the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as well as the SuperLiga 2008 crown to become the only MLS team to win the tournament.
The Revolution last qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2009, missing the postseason each of the last two seasons.
Nicol was named MLS Coach of the Year after being promoted from assistant head coach to interim head coach in 2002, and was hired on a full-time basis after the season.
The Revolution finished their 2011 season 5-16-13. The club will begin searching for a new head coach immediately.
