Best XI of All-Time: New England Revolution

In recognition of the New England Revolution’s 25th season, we held a vote to determine the club’s best players through the ages.

A New England Revolution team shot, with faces erased | Photo credit: Kari Heistad

This is not the vision anyone had for the New England Revolution’s 25th season. In saying that, there’s nothing stopping those who have followed the team closely over the years from remembering key figures on and off the field that made the club what it is today.

In this spirit, a 12-person panel held a vote to determine the best players by position during the club’s quarter-century of existence.

Here’s a breakdown of the voting panel:

Beat Reporters: Frank Dell’Apa (The Boston Globe/New England Soccer Journal); Julian Cardillo (Pro Soccer USA), Jeff Lemieux (RevolutionSoccer.net); Jason York (MLSsoccer.com/Soccer by Ives/New England Soccer Journal); Brian O’Connell (New England Soccer Today); Seth Macomber (SB Nation/Bent Musket); Sean Sweeney (Bay State Soccer Sentinel)

Photographer: Chris Aduama (Freelance)

Podcasts: Sean Donahue (Revolution Recap); Mike Sandland (NERevs UK Show)

Supporters: Matt Zytka (President, Midnight Riders); Michael Simeone (President, The Rebellion)

The ballot asked voters to select a starting goalkeeper, a minimum of three starting defenders, a minimum of four starting midfielders and a minimum of two starting strikers. Each ballot required substitute votes for two defenders, two midfielders, two strikers and one goalkeeper.

Starting votes were weighted three times more than a vote for a substitute. A full voting breakdown is listed at the end of this article, though the author of each ballot will remain private.

Goalkeeper

Starting Goalkeeper: Matt Reis | Substitution: Matt Turner

Matt Reis (2003–13)

In a surprise to probably no one, the voting panel unanimously named Matt Reis as the New England Revolution’s best goalkeeper of all-time. Reis stood between the goal posts for New England between 2003–13 and was on the field for most of the club’s seminal moments, including 10 trips to the playoffs, three MLS Cup finals, and winning the 2007 U.S. Open Cup and 2008 Superliga titles.

Reis ranks close to the top in virtually ever goalkeeping metric league-wide. He is fifth all-time in games played (293), sixth all-time in saves (1,114), seventh all-time in shutouts (75), and boasts a career goals against average of 1.32 and a 72.0 save percentage.

Reis also represented the U.S. men’s national team twice, was an alternate for the 2006 FIFA World Cup team and was part of the roster that won the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Also receiving votes: Bobby Shuttleworth, Adin Brown, Walter Zenga, Aidan Heaney

Defense

Starting Back Line: Chris Tierney, Michael Parkhurst, Jay Heaps | Substitutions: Ted Chronopoulos, Jose Goncalves

Chris Tierney (2008–18)

The left back from Wellesley, Massachusetts was a homegrown player well-before homegrown players came into Major League Soccer lexicon. Tierney added consistency to New England’s back line and developed one of the most feared left-footed crosses in the league during his time with the Revolution. Tierney recorded 13 goals and 46 assists over 245 regular season appearances. He also contributed two goals and two assists during the club’s iconic 2014 playoff run.

Michael Parkhurst (2005–08)

Another local hero, the Cranston, Rhode Island native started his professional career with his hometown New England Revolution and helped anchor the club’s back line during its most successful period. Parkhurst won the league’s Rookie of the Year award in 2005 as the Revolution compiled MLS’ second-best defensive record and reached the MLS Cup final. They also had the best defensive record the following season, and again reached the MLS Cup final in 2006 and 2007.

Parkhurst is often described as a cerebral defender and seldom fouled his opponents, opting instead to use his positioning to win possession. Remarkably, he totaled just three cautions in four seasons with the Revolution was never once red carded. Parkhurst went on to play in Champions League for Denmark’s FC Nordsjaelland and also represented Germany’s Augsburg, the Columbus Crew, and Atlanta United. He made 24 appearances with the U.S. men’s national team and was part of the rosters that won the 2007 and 2013 Concacaf Gold Cups.

Jay Heaps (2001–09)

Yet another local product to suit up for his hometown team, the Longmeadow, Massachusetts native overlapped with both Parkhurst and Tierney and participated in every Revolution post-season between 2002–09, which also included three trips to the MLS Cup final.

Heaps’ tenure in the league was marked by his tenacious and competitive temperament on the field. He emerged as one of the club’s locker room leaders and contributed 17 goals and 34 assists in 314 regular season appearances. Heaps was part of the U.S. men’s national team roster that won the 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup.

After retiring, Heaps worked as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley and served as the Revolution’s television commentator. He served as the team’s coach from 2012–17 and led the club to the post-season three times and MLS Cup final once.

Also receiving votes: Andrew Farrell, AJ Soares, Joe Franchino, Francis Okaroh, Alexi Lalas, Carlos Llamosa, Mike Burns

Midfield

Starting Midfield: Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph, Lee Nguyen, Clint Dempsey | Substitutions: Diego Fagundez, Carles Gil, Jermaine Jones

Steve Ralston (2002–10)

The voting panel unanimously chose Ralston as a starting midfielder, as the MLS “ironman” participated in most the club’s seminal games, helped produce dozens of important goals, and still ranks near the top in league history for assists.

Ralston is MLS’ inaugural Rookie of the Year and joined the Revolution after the Tampa Bay Mutiny folded. He established a critical partnership with New England’s attackers, namely Taylor Twellman, from 2003–09 and finished his career with 135 assists.

Ralston is second in league history for all-time assists, just three behind Landon Donovan and 42 ahead of the the closest active player, Sacha Kljestan. Ralston played in 36 games for the U.S. men’s national team. Ralston scored the goal that clinched the U.S.’s qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but was an alternate for the tournament roster.

Shalrie Joseph (2003–12; 2014)

Shalrie Joseph served as the Revolution’s captain and midfield general during the best and worst times in franchise history. His leadership and willingness to play everywhere from central defense, to lone striker, to his natural position in holding midfield are some of the reasons he’s widely-respected among the club’s fans today.

His toughness and consistency aside, Joseph’s accomplishments in MLS are striking, too. He is a five-time MLS All-Star, a four-time MLS Best XI selection, and was a finalist for MLS MVP in 2009. Joseph is New England’s all-time leader in games played (261), starts (254), and minutes played (22,867). He is also sixth in goals scored (37) and seventh in assists (34).

Lee Nguyen (2012–18)

Lee Nguyen anchored the Revolution’s attack at the height of the Jay Heaps coaching era. His contributions, along with those of Jermaine Jones, helped the Revolution reach the 2014 MLS Cup final. Nguyen was a finalist for league MVP in 2014 and finished his Revolution career 51 goals and 49 assists. He currently ranks third in club history for goals scored, second in assists, third in shots, third in shots on goal, and second in game-winning goals.

A contract dispute between Nguyen and former Revolution general manager Mike Burns led to a messy separation between the player and club. Nguyen left in 2018 via a trade to Los Angeles FC and is now with Inter Miami CF, with the Revolution fanbase seemingly split in its feelings toward Nguyen.

Clint Dempsey (2004–06)

Within three seasons of being selected by the Revolution in the 2004 MLS Superdraft, the “Texas Tornado” won the league’s Rookie of the Year Award, made his U.S. men’s national team debut, scored in a FIFA World Cup and helped lead the Revolution to two MLS Cup finals.

Dempsey isn’t remembered much for his brief stint in New England, in part because the remainder of his career turned out to be so stellar. But the Revolution were his first stop before he joined England’s Fulham FC on a then-MLS record $4 million transfer in 2004 and continued on to Tottenham and Seattle Sounders FC.

Dempsey scored 25 goals and added 14 assists in 71 games and for the Revolution and was an MLS Best XI selection in 2005 and 2006. He is tied with Landon Donovan for the U.S. men’s national team’s all-time scoring title and is the only male American player to score in three World Cups.

Also receiving votes: Jose Cancela, Jeff Larentowicz, Andy Dorman

Attack

Starting Forwards: Joe-Max Moore, Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan | Substitution: Wolde Harris

Joe-Max Moore (1996–99; 03–04)

Joe-Max Moore was New England’s attacking talisman in its first years in the league. Moore led Revolution scoring in 1996 and 1999 and led the team in assists in 1998, 1999 and 2003. Moore was also the team’s MVP in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Moore is also sixth all-time in goals for the U.S. men’s national team with 24 strikes. He played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups.

Taylor Twellman (2002–10)

You can’t leave Taylor Twellman off this team. Taylor Twellman isn’t just the greatest scorer in New England Revolution history, he’s also one of the most feared strikers to ever compete in MLS. At 29, Twellman scored his 100th and 101st goals, becoming the youngest player to reach the century mark in league history.

He leads the Revolution in goals, game-winning goals, shots, shots on goal, and hat tricks. He has scored simple tap-ins, shots from distance, headers, and bicycle kicks. His best season, by accolade, came in 2005 when he led the league in scoring, helped take the Revolution to the MLS Cup final, and was named MLS MVP and MLS All-Star Game MVP. But make no mistake: opposing defenders kept a close eye on Twellman every game of every season he was in the league.

Twellman scored six goals in 30 appearances with the U.S. men’s national team and was widely-regarded as a 2006 FIFA World Cup snub. A concussion forced Twellman to retire prematurely in 2010. He has gone on to work as a sports commentator for ESPN and is an outspoken advocate for concussion awareness.

Pat Noonan (2003–07)

Pat Noonan finished his Revolution career with 37 goals and 29 assists, though he is primarily remembered for being the other half of a lethal attacking partnership with Taylor Twellman. But Noonan had his fair share of time in the spotlight as well. He shared the 2004 MLS Golden Boot with Amado Guevara with 11 goals and eight assists and was also named a 2004 and 2005 MLS All-Star.

Noonan went on to represent Norway’s Aelesunds FK, Columbus Crew SC, Seattle Sounders FC, and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He also scored one goal in 15 appearances for the U.S. men’s national team.

Also receiving votes: Charlie Davies, Alberto Naveda, Paul Keegan, Gustavo Bou, Raul Diaz Arce

Voting Breakdown

Goalkeeper

Matt Reis was the clear favorite in this category, and while some recency bias might be attributed to Matt Turner’s popularity, it’s important to note that many of Turner’s current statistics — particularly saves and save percentage — are in line with or better than those of other goalkeepers on the ballot.

Defense

Jose Goncalves earned plaudits from most voters but didn’t have enough first place votes to catch up to Chris Tierney, who was a clear favorite in this category behind Jay Heaps and Michael Parkhurst. More recent defenders like AJ Soares and Andrew Farrell drew marginal support, while voting for defenders with international experience like Mike Burns, Alexi Lalas, Carlos Llamosa, and Francis Okaroh remained on the fringes.

Midfield

Steve Ralston and Shalrie Joseph were unanimous picks to start in midfield. Clint Dempsey and perhaps, surprisingly, Lee Nguyen drew widespread support as well. Diego Fagundez made the bench as a third midfielder thanks to one panelist who voted for him as a starting striker. Though bench votes were supposed to be limited to two midfielders, Fagundez’s inclusion as a midfielder or forward allowed for the inclusion of Carles Gil, who received more support than many of the strikers vying for a spot on the bench. Jermaine Jones received support from two-thirds of the panel. Andy Dorman, Jeff Larentowicz and Jose Cancela never got the starting votes necessary to bolster their candidacies.

Attack

Taylor Twellman and Joe-Max Moore were on every voter’s ballot and were near-unanimous choices for the Starting XI. Pat Noonan got in thanks to his vote total being higher than Fagundez’s, who took a place on the bench and allowed for this team to be constructed as a 3–4–3.

Wolde Harris received support from half the panel to be included as a substitute, with support for Paul Keegan, Charlie Davies, Alberto Naveda, Gustavo Bou, and Raul Diaz Arce limited to the fringes.