The New England Revolution made a massive statement when they announced Bruce Arena as both coach and general manager on Tuesday, replacing Mike Burns and Brad Friedel in those roles.



Arena is the most successful coach in MLS history, building dynasties in D.C. and Los Angeles, and he has acted in dual roles across much of that career. The move is designed to inspire confidence that the Revolution are taking seriously the need to rebuild their organization. But as Arena confronts a new challenge in Boston, he will be doing so against the backdrop of a league that has changed dramatically in the two-plus seasons since he last coached the LA Galaxy.



Building a successful club in MLS is now much more complicated than simply bringing together a competitive squad. The league’s top clubs—in Atlanta, Toronto, LA and Seattle—have built complete organizations from the top down, from first teams to USL reserve sides and academies, with sufficient...