Caleb Porter on The Soccer Show: “I wouldn’t have taken the job if I felt there wasn’t the potential to win”
When the New England Revolution began the search for a new head coach after the 2023 campaign, the club was intent on bringing in someone who is a proven winner with previous MLS coaching experience. Perhaps nobody fits that profile better than Caleb Porter. A two-time MLS cup Champion, Porter is set to embark on his 10th season in the league with one goal in mind – contend for trophies.
Porter joined D.J. Bean on the season’s first episode of “The Soccer Show” to discuss his decision to take the coaching job in New England, as the two also recapped the Revolution preseason and previewed the MLS season opener tonight, Feb. 24 at D.C. United. The Revolution coach feels his team has the potential to achieve great things this season, with a veteran-laden roster balanced with several young emerging stars.
“When I started to look at the roster, which obviously, I knew from afar being with the Columbus Crew and playing against New England how good the roster was, I felt this was a very strong foundation to build from,” Porter said of the Revs squad. “I liked the blend of experience and youth. We have some veteran guys who have been in the trenches and know how to win, and that’s important. It’s important to have young guys in the pipeline who are going to breathing down the necks of the older guys and add some energy and hunger.”
One of the returning players Porter is most excited about – forward Giacomo Vrioni, now in his third season with the club. The Albanian striker owns 10 goals for New England across all competitions since signing with the Revs in July 2022. With a history of scoring goals at the highest level, Porter feels the dam is finally ready to burst for Vrioni in 2024.
“I’ve scouted strikers for a lot of years and you don’t find guys like him very often,” Porter said of Vrioni. “I think Vrioni is a complete package. It’ll be up to him eventually, but I believe in him and I’m going to give him a run of games to perform. I do think we can get him in the box and in positions to score better than they have in the past, and that will give him confidence.”
With preseason in the rear-view mirror, Porter admits it has been a bit of an adjustment for players and staff alike. Despite a fair amount of continuity, everyone is adjusting to a new leadership style and different tactics. Porter feels this year’s Revolution team is ripe for success and has the potential to accomplish something special.
“I wouldn’t have taken the job if I felt there wasn’t potential to win,” said Porter. “I want to win my third [MLS Cup], but it’s not about me, it’s about the story of the New England Revolution winning their first. The idea of that really motivated me.”
Porter has constructed a coaching staff mixed with newcomers and returners. Former Revolution II coach Clint Peay and goalkeeper coach Kevin Hitchcock both returned to the Revolution staff this season, joined by Porter’s longtime assistants Pablo Moreira and Blair Gavin – the latter of whom spent part of the 2012 season playing for New England.
The mix of new and returning staff is something Porter has grown accustomed to throughout his MLS tenure. Porter feels Moreira and Gavin compliment his strengths and weaknesses well, while Peay and Hitchcock have a familiarity and knowledge about the club and organization that has already proven valuable.
“I’ve always felt it’s important for my growth to continue to have new ideas,” said Porter. “Every stop I’ve been, I’ve adopted new coaches. And it’s kind of fun because they’re learning the way we do things and challenging that, and I’m learning the way they do things and always learn something new. I was a young head coach in this league and the only way you keep evolving is to keep learning, and you do that through new staff.”
With his system now in place, Porter and the Revolution are ready to kick off the 2024 MLS Regular Season tonight at Audi Field against the Black and Red of D.C. The 7:30 p.m. kickoff is available to watch
for free on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Listen live on 98.5 FM HD2 with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies calling the match, beginning their fifth season together in booth.
