Revolution announce end of year roster decisions

Nearly 48 hours after being eliminated by the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference Finals, Head Coach and Sporting Director Bruce Arena began to shape the Revs roster as the team prepares for the 2021 MLS season.

Among the list of guaranteed contracts for 2021 includes designated players Gustavo Bou and Adam Buksa. The DP combo combined for eleven goals and five assists throughout 2020.

Recently converted right back Tajon Buchanan will also return for 2021. The recent Canadian Youth International Player of the Year began the 2020 campaign playing upfield but would slowly transition into playing right back towards the end of the regular season into the playoffs. Buchanan ends the 2020 campaign with two goals and two assists.

Veteran Teal Bunbury will return for his eighth season with the Revolution. The Revolution’s 2020 Golden Boot winner comes into 2021 after notching eight goals and one assist in 2020.

Another veteran will be returning as left back Alexander Büttner will rejoin the club in 2021. Although minor injuries interrupted the end of Büttner’s 2020 campaign, the former Manchester United man ended 2020 with three assists.

Veteran center back Andrew Farrell will also be returning for his ninth season with the Revolution. Farrell comes into 2021 after being a vital part of the Revs backline. Throughout 2020, Farrell was in the right place at the right time and made numerous tackles, clearances, and goal-line clearances, which kept the Revs in a multitude of matches.

Right back Brandon Bye returns to the Revolution after ending his 2020 campaign with one assist. DeJuan Jones also returns after spending time at left-back. The former Michigan State Spartan enters his third season with the Revolution.

Rookie standout Henry Kessler will return for his second season with the Revolution in 2021. The UVA alum had a phenomenal rookie outing, which saw the young center back contend for the Young Player of the Year award.

Throughout 2020, Kessler shocked many by showing a high defensive IQ as Kessler thorough tracking, precise tackling, and accurate passing. Kessler was also able to flash his offensive skill set as the young defender would score his first career goal in September.

Recently acquired midfielder Matt Polster returns to the Revs after being acquired back in July. Throughout 2020, Polster accumulated two assists.

Justin Rennicks and Damian Rivera return to the Revs after spending a majority of 2020 down with USL affiliate Revolution II.

Throughout their time with Revs II, Rennicks and Rivera combined for six goals and two assists. After the USL League One season concluded, Rennicks would join the Revolution bench for all four of their playoff matches, making three appearances.

The last player returning to the Revolution on a guaranteed contract is none other than goalkeeper Matt Turner. Turner enters his sixth year with the club after an outstanding 2020 season. A season that saw the Park Ridge native earn a career-high six shutouts while making 68 saves.

While 13 players return on guaranteed contracts, the Revs were also able to exercise five player options.

The biggest option exercise being on DP midfielder Carles Gil. Although injuries held him back in 2020, the Spaniard was still able to notch two assists and was a vital part of the Revolution’s playoff run.

The Revs also brought back international midfielder Luis Caicedo. Caicedo missed the entirety of the 2020 season after undergoing surgery on his right meniscus. As Caicedo returns for his fourth season with the club, it will be interesting to see the impact he has on the Revs midfield alongside Carles Gil.

Veteran keeper Brad Knighton returns for his 11th season with the Revs. Knighton ended the 2020 campaign with five saves over one appearance.

Colin Verfurth returns after spending the 2020 season with Revs II. During his time with Revs II, Verfurth accounted for a team-leading seventy-four clearances along with fourteen interceptions and fourteen tackles.

Veteran midfielder Scott Caldwell returns for his 9th season with the Revs. The homegrown midfielder comes into 2021 looking to be a crucial piece of the Revs midfielde alongside Luis Caicedo and Carles Gil.

The Revs declined a total of seven contracts for the 2021 season. The first two being Revs II standouts Nicolas Firmino and Isaac Angking. The two spent the 2020 season with Revs II, where they combined for six goals and two assists.

Although it is unclear what the future holds for Firmino and Angking, one can hope the two re-sign with either the Revs or with Revs II.

Jeff Caldwell will not return for 2021. The 24-year-old keeper did not appear for the Revolution in 2020.

Michael Mancienne did not see his option picked up. The 32-year-old center back made seven appearances for the Revs across the regular season and playoff action in 2020. Kekuta Manneh also joined the list of options not picked up. Manneh joined the Revs after being traded by F.C. Cincinnati back in August. Manneh would score one goal for the Revs throughout 2020.

Cristian Penilla did not see his option picked up either. Penilla accumulated four assists in 2020 before a season-ending foot injury suffered in October. Seth Sinovic also saw his option declined after only making one appearance for the Revs in 2020, where he only clocked in 13 minutes.

Five players also saw their contract with the Revs expire.

This includes center-back Antonio Delamea. Delamea ended the 2020 season clocking in 319 minutes over five appearances. Midfielder Tommy McNamara also saw his contract expire. McNamara was traded by the Houston Dynamo as part of the Wilfried Zahibo trade back in August. McNamara ended the 2020 campaign with two assists for the Revs.

Returnee’s Kelyn Rowe and Lee Nguyen also saw their contracts expire. Rowe returned to the club during the 2019 offseason after spending one season away from the club. During 2020, Rowe clocked in 896 minutes over 16 appearances.

Nguyen rejoined the Revs after the Revs trade with Inter Miami. Nguyen rejoined the Revs after a three-year hiatus. Nguyen ended the 2020 season with a goal and an assist.

Last but not least, Diego Fagundez’s time in New England has come to an end. After ten seasons with the club, the Revolution homegrown announced that he would be departing the club via Instagram.

After today’s decisions, the Revolution currently roster a total of 18 players. It will definitely be interesting to see what Arena and the organization decide to do this offseason.