Bruce Almighty

I’m sorry, Bruce. I should have known better. I should never have doubted you. There, I said it. I was wrong. It wasn’t the first time, and certainly won’t be the last. While it’s embarrassing how wrong I was, I’ve never been so happy to be in error.

You see, I’m talking of course, about my immediate dismissal of Bruce Arena. After Ruud Gullit ‘resigned’ midway through last season, the Galaxy head honchos turned to Bruce Arena. “The Bruce” is a well-known figure in the soccer community, perhaps best known as the former head coach of the United States National Team from 1998-2006.

Arena was certainly a big name, which the Galaxy seemed to consider a major factor, and definitely carried an impressive resume. He had been extremely successful at the NCAA level, with the University of Virginia in the 80’s and early 90’s. He later took DC United to three consecutive MLS Cup Finals, winning in both ‘96 and ‘97. And of course, there was the national team. After the United States dismal performance in France ‘98, Arena replaced coach Steve Sampson. He turned the team around over the next four years, culminating with an amazing World Cup run in 2002, leading the “Nats” all the way to the quarterfinals.

But did he still have it? After the success of the 2002 World Cup, the US flamed out in the group stage in 2006. Arena was left with egg on his face after some controversial decisions and an overly defensive style. The US Soccer federation chose not to renew his contract, and Arena returned to the MLS, this time with the New York Red Bulls. He found little success in a season and half at the helm of New York. His decision to bring in over-the-hill Claudio Reyna as his ‘designated player’ seemed to cement to many that he had lost his marbles. Once again, Bruce was out of a job.

But not for long. After a chaotic 9 months under the eccentric Ruud Gullit, the Galaxy cleared house. Arena was named coach and general manager, relieving Alexi Lalas of the latter duty.

 

I, along with most Galaxy fans, was less than impressed. Yes, Ruud had to go. He was simply not cut out for the MLS. He considered himself above simple duties like scouting players, preparing game plans, practicing set pieces and curtailing locker room squabbles. In fact, what he did consider his job is unclear. The Galaxy under Gullit was exciting, but in the worst sense of the word. They played attractive, attacking soccer at times, but leaked goals at a rate that would embarrass intramural teams.

However, the Bruce Arena signing seemed rushed. He was hired less than a week after Gullit’s departure. Not only had he struggled in recent years, but also, his natural style was extremely defensive. I joked to my brother that he’d have Landon Donovan playing rightback in no time. He wasn’t able to do much with the mess Ruud left, and didn’t get his first win for over a month after taking the reigns. The Galaxy ended the 2008 season tied for last place in the entire league, and fell well short of the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Bruce began to put his own stamp on the team early in the preseason of 2009. He started bringing in ‘his’ guys- players he was familiar with, either from the national team, DC United or the Red Bulls- regardless of their age or remaining ability. In came Eddie Lewis, Tony Sanneh, Greg Berhalter, and Jovan Kirovski. All were in their mid to late 30’s, and all had played for Bruce during his time as National team coach. With the exception of Eddie Lewis, most of these moves were met with disgust from the Galaxy faithful. These players were over the hill, and had little left to offer. In came Mike Magee, Dema Kovalenko and Stefani Miglioranzi- mediocre and unexciting MLS players, I felt at the time.

Then Bruce announced the preseason cuts. This was the last straw for me. He waived Brandon McDonald, a highly promising center midfielder, young and full of potential. Brandon had it all- size, strength, touch and a powerful outside shot. He was capable of playing nearly any position. And most importantly, he was my favorite Galaxy player. I was devastated. It seemed senseless. Couldn’t we at least trade him, rather than give him away for nothing?

I was done with Bruce Arena. I didn’t see any chance of him saving the team. He had brought in his crappy and ancient favorites, he’d released some of our most promising young guys, and worst of all, he coached extremely defensive and boring soccer. I was very pessimistic about the 2009 season. I predicted another highly disappointing season for my Galaxy, and fully expected Bruce to be fired at the end of it.

The season started off somewhat as expected. The Galaxy looked mediocre. They didn’t get their first win until a month into the season, and after two months had a bizarre 9 draws, to go along with one win and two losses. The calls for Bruce’s head intensified. Not only was the Galaxy not winning, but ‘BruceBall’ was almost unwatchable. I began to remember the 5-4 losses under Gullit a little too fondly. At least they were more exciting than losing 1-0, or drawing 0-0. I was so fed up I began asking for Arena to be canned, in the middle of the season.

And then a funny thing happened. The Galaxy started winning. It began slowly, a win here, a draw there, and then the inevitable setback loss. But there was no question the team was getting better. They had an identity; they had a permanent shape. They were committed to playing solidly in defense.

Three Bruce signings were having huge roles in this defensive renaissance. Rookie defenders AJ Delagarza and Omar Gonzalez (who was yesterday named Rookie of the Year) were exceeding any rational expectations. The signing of Jamaican goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts appeared to be a masterstroke- for the first time since Joe Cannon we had a great goalie between the posts.

By late June, the early calls for Bruce Arena’s head were beginning to look like embarrassing memories. The Galaxy didn’t lose a league game for nearly two months- from June to August- and even had respectable performances against two of the biggest clubs in the world: AC Milan (D 2-2) and Barcelona (L 1-2). They were near the top of the table in the West, and the playoffs looked like a realistic possibility. Perhaps Bruce was the right coach after all.

While it took almost a year for the fans to start believing in Arena, he had the respect of his players from the beginning. When I met Eddie Johnson last spring, I jokingly mentioned how unexcited I was to have Bruce Arena as head coach of my favorite team. Eddie quickly defended Bruce, calling him the best manager he’d ever played for. And the Galaxy players seemed to agree. Bruce was constantly praised for his professionalism and work ethic, and the results were showing on the field.

At the end of the regular season, Los Angeles sat in first place in the West. They had not only clinched the playoffs, but had locked up home field throughout the playoffs. The turnaround from previous seasons was astounding, as were the stats. The 2008 Galaxy only recorded two shutouts, and gave up three or more goals eight times. By contrast, the 2009 Galaxy, under Arena, recorded 15 shutouts, and gave up three goals only twice. 5-4 losses were replaced by 0-0 draws, and 2-0 wins. It wasn’t always the most exciting style of play, but it got results. I began to enjoy the 1-0 wins, and cringed at the embarrassing defensive performances of previous years. We looked like a real professional team. Nobody was going to be calling L.A. a “pub team” again anytime soon.

Perhaps most importantly, Bruce was able to control his players. David Beckham came back from AC Milan halfway through the season, and many fans and players were justifiably less than thrilled. Landon Donovan, the Galaxy’s best player and captain, unleashed a media firestorm when he publicly criticized his English teammate in Grant Wahl’s tell-all book, The Beckham Experiment. Under a lesser manager, the team may have imploded. Bruce Arena, however, was able to keep the team’s private business just that- private. He got Landon and David to respect each other off the field, and form a dynamic partnership on it, bringing the best out of both of them.

After beating local rivals Chivas USA in the opening round of the playoffs, the Galaxy now sit only two wins away from lifting the MLS Cup, with a semi final matchup against the Houston Dynamo tonight. For doubters like me, this amount of success was unfathomable at the beginning of the season. But Bruce has proved us all wrong. With a shift in team mentality, some key acquisitions, and a total commitment from all the players, Arena has turned the Galaxy from the laughingstock of the league into legitimate championship contenders.

Earlier this week Bruce Arena was named coach of the year, to widespread agreement from fans and pundits. I can’t say that I was behind him the whole time, (unless you count those first few months I followed behind him with an axe) but I am now. The turnaround he has orchastrated in a salary cap league like the MLS is remarkable, and he has proven once again that he is a top manager. "Bruce Almighty" indeed. After the dramatic turnaround he achieved with the Galaxy, his next miracle (water to wine? walking on water? Helping San Jose make the playoffs?) should be easy.

Thanks Bruce.