# 2000 New England Revolution season

The 2000 New England Revolution season was the fifth season for the New England Revolution both as a club and in Major League Soccer (MLS). The club was eliminated in the second round of the 2000 U.S. Open Cup after losing 1–0 to the Mid-Michigan Bucks. They qualified for the quarterfinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Chicago Fire in a three-game series.

## Summary

The Revolution entered a busy off-season following their 1999 campaign, in which they'd missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. On October 12, 1999, the Revolution named Sunil Gulati managing director of Kraft Soccer and appointed Brian O’Donovan as chief operating officer. Following the dismissal of Walter Zenga on September 30, the Revolution appointed Fernando Clavijo as their fourth-ever manager (following Steve Nicol's interim stay at the end of the 1999 season). Renato Capobianco joined Clavijo's staff as an assistant on December 7, and on January 5, Derek Aframe would join the front office as the Vice President of Operations.
The Revs made several acquisitions in the offseason to strengthen their squad. On December 3, Clavijo's Revolution made their first acquisition, signing 1996 MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI striker Eduardo "El Tanque" Hurtado. Three days later, the Revolution acquired 1998 MLS All-Star Mauricio Ramos and a selection in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft from the Tampa Bay Mutiny in exchange for a "player allocation."
February 6, the Revolution acquired Wolde Harris and a third-round pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for New England's first- and second-round picks in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. In the 2000 MLS SuperDraft, Revolution selected Rusty Pierce, Shaker Asad, Fabio Zúñiga, Bo Oshoniyi, Adam Eyre, and Tom Hardy. The club also signed goalkeeper Scott Budnick off waivers from the Miami Fusion. In March, the Revolution signed Costa Rican international William Sunsing from CS Herediano and acquired U.S. International goalkeeper Juergen Sommer from the Columbus Crew in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft and future considerations.
Despite missing star striker Joe-Max Moore, who had signed for Everton F.C. in November, Clavijo's Revolution got off to a strong start to the season, dropping only four of their opening fifteen matches. The season opened on March 18 with a 1–1 draw away to the Miami Fusion, courtesy of an Imad Baba 80th minute equalizing goal. The Revolution's first win came in the season home opener, 2-1, thanks to a brace from Baba. In May the club went on a five-game unbeaten run, the longest in their existence to that point.
The club made several more acquisitions as the season progressed. Midfielder Joe Franchino signed for the club in May from the LA Galaxy, as part of a "special draft" that saw Luis Hernández join the Galaxy.
1998 MLS All-Star Mauricio Wright also joined the club in June from the San Jose Earthquakes, in exchange for 1996 Revolution marquee signing Mike Burns, Dan Calichman, and a first-round pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. In July, the Revolution acquired U.S. International Eric Wynalda and future draft considerations from the Miami Fusion in exchange for defender Ivan McKinley. The club also signed Spanish forward José Luis Morales from Salamanca.
The Revolution made history in the 2000 U.S. Open Cup, becoming the first-ever MLS team to lose to an amateur club, when they were defeated in the second round at home by the Mid Michigan Bucks 1-0.
After a six-game winless run mid-summer, the Revolution picked up only four wins in August and September, but still managed to clinch a playoff spot in the final game of the season; a 4–3 win over the MetroStars that saw a brace from Joe Franchino. The Revolution concluded their regular season with a 13-13-6 record (W-L-D), their best in club history to that point.
In the Revolution's second-ever playoff campaign, the club squared off against "Central Division" champion and overall 2nd-seed Chicago Fire in a best-of-three series. The Revolution took a 50th-minute lead in the opening game at Soldier Field, but conceded an own goal four minutes later, and lost on a 73rd minute Dema Kovalenko goal. Four days later the Revolution leveled the tie, in a 2–1 home victory thanks to goals from Eric Wynalda and Mauricio Wright. The match marked the fist playoff victory in Revolution history. Unfortunately in the final match of the tie, the Revolution conceded four first-half goals, en route to a 6-0 Fire victory, and the end of the Revolution's season.

## Squad
### First-team squad

As of September 30, 2024.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | USA | Juergen Sommer |
| 1 | GK | USA | Scott Budnick |
| 2 | DF | USA | Brian Dunseth |
| 3 | DF | USA | Dan Calichman |
| 4 | MF | USA | Mike Burns |
| 5 | DF | USA | Ted Chronopoulos |
| 6 | MF | USA | John Harkes |
| 7 | MF | RSA | Ivan McKinley |
| 7 | FW | ESP | José Luis Morales |
| 8 | MF | USA | Imad Baba |
| 9 | FW | USA | Johnny Torres |
| 10 | MF | BOL | Mauricio Ramos |
| 11 | DF | USA | Joe Franchino (captain) |
| 12 | MF | USA | Adam Eyre |
| 13 | FW | JAM | Wolde Harris |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | MF | COL | Leonel Alvarez |
| 15 | MF | PLE | Shaker Asad |
| 16 | MF | USA | Carlos Parra |
| 17 | MF | USA | Jamar Beasley |
| 18 | FW | IRL | Paul Keegan |
| 19 | DF | USA | Rusty Pierce |
| 20 | FW | USA | Fabio Zuniga |
| 21 | DF | USA | Eric Wynalda |
| 26 | GK | USA | Jeff Causey |
| 29 | FW | ECU | Eduardo Hurtado |
| 29 | DF | CRC | Mauricio Wright |
| 31 | GK | USA | David Winner |
| 77 | FW | CRC | William Sunsing |

## Player Movement

Transfers In :
| Name | Position | Date | Acquired Via | Transfer Fee | Prior Club |
| Wolde Harris | FW | February 6, 2000 | Trade | N/A | Colorado Rapids |
| Rusty Pierce | DF | February 11, 2000 | Draft | N/A | UNC Greensboro Spartans |
| Shaker Asad | MF | February 11, 2000 | Draft | N/A | NC State |
| Fabio Zuniga | FW | February 11, 2000 | Draft | N/A | N/A |
| Bo Oshoniyi | GK | February 11, 2000 | Draft | N/A | Atlanta Silverbacks FC |
| Adam Eyre | DF | February 11, 2000 | Draft | N/A | Santa Clara |
| Tom Hardy | DF | February 11, 2000 | Draft | N/A | Vancouver 86ers |
| Scott Budnick | GK | February 11, 2000 | Waiver claim | N/A | Miami Fusion |
| William Sunsing | FW | March 7, 2000 | Transfer | Undisclosed | C.S. Herediano |
| Juergen Sommer | GK | March 14, 2000 | Trade | N/A | Columbus Crew |
| Joe Franchino | MF | May 17, 2000 | "Special Draft" | N/A | LA Galaxy |
| Mauricio Wright | DF | May 30, 2000 | Trade | N/A | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Eric Wynalda | FW | July 7, 2000 | Trade | N/A | Miami Fusion |
| Jose Luis Morales | FW | July 10, 2000 | Transfer | Undisclosed | UD Salamanca |
| David Winner | GK | September 4, 2000 | Transfer | Undisclosed | Atlanta Silverbacks FC |
    1.^ Acquired FW Wolde Harris and a third-round pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for New England's first- and second-round picks in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft.
    2.^ Acquired GK Juergen Sommer from the Columbus Crew in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft and future considerations.
    3.^ Acquired DF Mauricio Wright from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for DF Mike Burns, DF Dan Calichman, and a first-round pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft.
    4.^ Acquired FW Eric Wynalda and future draft considerations from the Miami Fusion in exchange for DF Ivan McKinley.
Transfers Out :
| Name | Position | Date | Acquired Via | Transfer Fee | Next Club |
| Jeff Baicher | MF | January 2, 2000 | Trade | N/A | Kansas City Wizards |
| Eduardo Hurtado | FW | May 17, 2000 | Transfer | Undisclosed | L.D.U. Quito |
| Mike Burns | DF | May 30, 2000 | Trade | N/A | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Dan Calichman | DF | May 30, 2000 | Trade | N/A | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Ivan McKinley | DF | July 7, 2000 | Trade | N/A | Miami Fusion |
| Jose Luis Morales | FW | November 1, 2000 | Option Declined | N/A | Real Jaén |
| Paul Keegan | FW | November 1, 2000 | Waived | N/A | Bray Wanderers F.C. |
    1.^ Acquired the Kansas City Wizards’ second-, third-, and fourth-round picks in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for MF Jeff Baicher and the Revolution's third round pick in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft.
    2.^ Acquired DF Mauricio Wright from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for DF Mike Burns, DF Dan Calichman, and a first-round pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft.
    3.^ Acquired FW Eric Wynalda and future draft considerations from the Miami Fusion in exchange for DF Ivan McKinley.

## Standings

Conference
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | MetroStars | 32 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 54 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | New England Revolution | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 45 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 3 | Miami Fusion | 32 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 54 | 56 | −2 | 41 | |
| 4 | D.C. United | 32 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 44 | 63 | −19 | 30 | |
Overall
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kansas City Wizards (C, S) | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 47 | 29 | +18 | 57 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 2 | Chicago Fire | 32 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 57 | CONCACAF Champions' Cup |
| 3 | MetroStars | 32 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 54 | |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 62 | 50 | +12 | 52 | |
| 5 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 32 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 47 | 37 | +10 | 50 | |
| 6 | Dallas Burn | 32 | 14 | 14 | 4 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 46 | |
| 7 | New England Revolution | 32 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 45 | |
| 8 | Colorado Rapids | 32 | 13 | 15 | 4 | 43 | 59 | −16 | 43 | |
| 9 | Miami Fusion | 32 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 54 | 56 | −2 | 41 | |
| 10 | Columbus Crew | 32 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 38 | |
| 11 | D.C. United | 32 | 8 | 18 | 6 | 44 | 63 | −19 | 30 | |
| 12 | San Jose Earthquakes | 32 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 29 | |