New England Revolution hire Shalrie Joseph as part of academy coaching staff

The New England Revolution are bringing back a club legend, announcing Tuesday they have hired Shalrie Joseph as the new head coach for their Under-15 academy team.

A seven-time MLS All-Star and four-time MLS Best XI honoree, Joseph is considered one of the greatest players in Revs history, making 261 appearances from 2003-2012. He also played in MLS for Chivas USA and the Seattle Sounders.

“Shalrie was one of the most impactful players in MLS over a 10-year span,” Revolution Director of Youth Development Bryan Scales said in Tuesday's release. “His ability to compete at the highest level was the catalyst of those top Revolution teams of the 2000s. We look forward to having him back on the field to help develop the next generation of New England Revolution homegrown players.”

Joseph had previously alluded to returning to the Revs in a coaching capacity in an interview with MLSsoccer.com's Charles Boehm in May.

"That was my dream job right now, to be able to work with those guys and be a part of their team," Joseph told Boehm. "But unfortunately, this [pandemic] happened so right now I'm just sitting back and waiting. Once we get a go on MLS to return then I’ll definitely be part of the organization [where] I had my glory days as a player. I look forward to that challenge, I think that’s the best thing for my life right now, is to be next to people that can really teach me and keep the focus on the game itself and learn from the best."

Joseph, 42,  made his managerial debut as head coach of the Grenada national team from 2018-19, after earning 20 international caps with the national team from 2002-08. As Grenada’s head coach, he qualified his native country for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and earned promotion to League A in the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League.