Frank Dell'Apa

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Jan. 21, 2005 – Revolution acquire goalkeeper Doug Warren from D.C. United

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Jan. 21, 2005 – New England Revolution acquire goalkeeper Doug Warren from D.C. United in exchange for a draft choice; sign Joe Franchino, Marshall Leonard, Steve Ralston, Matt Reis

The Revolution took care of business in the off-season and got off to their best start ever in ’05. The Revolution had perfected the art of finishing strong, but this was the first time they got off to a fast start, going unbeaten in their first 11 games. The team’s early success was extraordinary, considering it had produced only one plus-.500 season in nine years. The Revolution went on to finish 17W-7L-8D (59 pts.) but lost, 1-0, in extra time to the LA Galaxy in the final in Frisco, Texas. Shalrie Joseph was named Revolution MVP and Taylor Twellman, who led the league in scoring with 17 goals, was named MLS MVP. [Read more…] about Jan. 21, 2005 – Revolution acquire goalkeeper Doug Warren from D.C. United

Jan. 20, 2007 – Clint Dempsey makes Premier League debut

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Jan. 20, 2007 – Clint Dempsey makes Premier League debut as 83rd-minute substitute for Moritz Volz. Fulham 1×1 Tottenham

Dempsey’s stated goal was to move on from MLS to a career in Europe and, after three seasons with the Revolution, he made the move on Jan. 11, 2007. Nine days later, Dempsey was in the Cottagers’ lineup. Dempsey went on to become first U.S. player to perform in a major European final (Atletico Madrid 2×1 Fulham) May 12, 2010, set a record for a U.S. player in the Premiership with his 37th goal Dec. 5, 2011; first U.S. player to complete a hat trick in the Premier (vs. Newcastle Jan. 21, 2012). Dempsey set a Fulham record for Premier League goals with his 15th against Bolton Wanderers April 7, 2012 and finished fourth in PFWAA Player of the Year voting before transferring to Tottenham Aug. 31, 2012. His first Spurs’ goal was a game-winner in 3-2 victory at Manchester United Sept. 29, 2012.

Dempsey took a single-minded approach to making the transfer happen. [Read more…] about Jan. 20, 2007 – Clint Dempsey makes Premier League debut

Jan. 19, 2008 – Andy Dorman makes Scottish Premier League debut

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Jan. 19, 2008 – Andy Dorman makes Scottish Premier League debut. St. Mirren FC 3×1 Motherwell

The Revolution failed to meet Dorman’s salary demands, so he moved to Scotland and took his career (and bank account) to another level. Nine minutes into his first game, Dorman assisted on a Mark Corcoran goal in a 3-1 win over Motherwell.

Among Dorman’s highlights in Scotland would be a two-goal showing in a 4-0 victory over Celtic March 24, 2010. Dorman’s performances in Scotland led to a move to Crystal Palace in the League Championship, plus three appearances with Wales’ national team – in his final international, he replaced Aaron Ramsey in the 90th minute of a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland. [Read more…] about Jan. 19, 2008 – Andy Dorman makes Scottish Premier League debut

Jan. 18, 2008 – Revolution select Rob Valentino with No. 13 pick in MLS SuperDraft

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Jan. 18, 2008 – Revolution select Rob Valentino with No. 13 pick, Michael Videira in second round (18th overall) in MLS SuperDraft

Valentino went on to make three starts at right back the Revolution’s run to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, then was sent to Colorado in 2009. Valentino, 6-foot-3, was projected as a central defender, but ended up mostly filling in at outside back with the Revolution. [Read more…] about Jan. 18, 2008 – Revolution select Rob Valentino with No. 13 pick in MLS SuperDraft

Jan. 17, 2003 – Revolution select Pat Noonan with No. 9 pick in SuperDraft

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Jan. 17, 2003 – Revs select Pat Noonan with No. 9 pick in MLS SuperDraft, acquire Matt Reis from LA Galaxy in exchange for Alex Pineda Chacon

Noonan went on to score 46 goals in all competitions in four years with the Revolution, second on the team’s all-time list at time, before departing for Aalesund in Norway.

This draft marked former Revolution coach Steve Nicol’s ability to find underrated collegiate prospects late in the first round. In 2004, Nicol took Clint Dempsey at No. 8 and in 2005, Michael Parkhurst No. 9. [Read more…] about Jan. 17, 2003 – Revolution select Pat Noonan with No. 9 pick in SuperDraft

Jan. 16, 2004 – Revolution select Clint Dempsey with No. 8 pick

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Jan. 16, 2004 – New England Revolution select Clint Dempsey with No. 8 pick, Felix Brillant (56th overall) and Andy Dorman (58th overall) in sixth round of MLS SuperDraft

Some good and some not-so-good players were chosen ahead of Dempsey. But what boggles belief is that Dempsey had trained with Dallas and wanted to play there, since it was close to his Nacogdoches home – yet the Burn passed him by twice, to go for Ramon Nuñez and Clarence Goodson. I recall an early-season 2004 interview with Dempsey in which he expressed shock, and a hint of resentment, in having been selected later than Freddy Adu (and being paid considerably less). [Read more…] about Jan. 16, 2004 – Revolution select Clint Dempsey with No. 8 pick

Jan. 15, 2002 – Revolution waive Caté, sign Adin Brown

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Jan. 15, 2002 – Revolution waive Caté, sign goalkeeper Adin Brown

The Revolution cleared roster and salary cap space to make room for Brown, who would play a key part in the team’s run to the MLS Cup final. Brown was expected to take on a backup role in place of Jeff Causey, who had been among the Revolution’s steadiest performers during unsteady times.

Brown ended up as a starter, playing 61 games in all competitions, his final appearance in a 2-1 win over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars June 26, 2004. Brown sustained an injury in the first half, and was replaced by Matt Reis, never to appear again for the Revolution, moving to Aalesund in Norway. [Read more…] about Jan. 15, 2002 – Revolution waive Caté, sign Adin Brown

Jan. 14, 2005 – Revolution select Michael Parkhurst with No. 9 pick

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Jan. 14, 2005 – Revolution select Michael Parkhurst with No. 9 pick, James Riley in the second round (21st overall) and Tony Lochhead in third round (33rd overall) in MLS SuperDraft

Michael Parkhurst proved to be another exception to the rule about the U.S. development system. Parkhurst emerged as a central defender, emphasizing skill over size, on the way to a collegiate career at Wake Forest and U.S. national team residency in Bradenton, Fla.

Stacey DeCastro was probably the first coach to recognize Parkhurst’s talent. [Read more…] about Jan. 14, 2005 – Revolution select Michael Parkhurst with No. 9 pick

Jan. 13, 2011 – Revolution select A.J. Soares with No. 6 pick in draft

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Today in NE Soccer History

Jan. 13, 2011 – Revolution select A.J. Soares with No. 6 pick in MLS SuperDraft

This turned out to be Steve Nicol’s final MLS draft as Revolution coach, and Nicol showed he still could pick winners. In 1999, when Nicol arrived in the U.S. to be a player/coach with the Framingham-based Boston Bulldogs he might not have known the difference between the MLS draft and the Selective Service. But Nicol caught on quickly and two of his prize picks were central defenders: Michael Parkhurst (2005) and Anthony James Soares. [Read more…] about Jan. 13, 2011 – Revolution select A.J. Soares with No. 6 pick in draft

Jan. 12, 2007 – Revs draft Thompson, Igwe, Adam Cristman

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Today in NE Soccer History

Jan. 12, 2007 – Revolution select Wells Thompson No. 5, Amaechi Igwe No. 12 and Adam Cristman in the fourth round (48th overall) in MLS SuperDraft

Cristman looked to be carrying on a tradition of overachieving late-round Revolution picks, playing as a reserve in two of the biggest wins in team history, the 2007 U.S. Open Cup and 2008 Superliga finals. Thompson started and scored in the Open Cup final, a 3-2 victory over FC Dallas, and Igwe went the distance in central defense in a 2-2 tie and penalty kick win in the Superliga title match against the Houston Dynamo. [Read more…] about Jan. 12, 2007 – Revs draft Thompson, Igwe, Adam Cristman