Mike Burns

General Manager
New England Revolution

Michael Burns is in his ninth season with the New England Revolution, and his second as the team’s General Manager. He was promoted to his new role in November 2011 after four seasons as the team’s Vice President of Player Personnel.

As General Manager, Burns leads all aspects of the club’s soccer operations, which includes oversight of the coaching staff, player acquisitions and scouting, in addition continuing his oversight of the youth development program and the team’s operations and management.

The former Revs defender and team captain returned to the club at the start of the 2005 season as the Director of Soccer before earning a promotion to Vice President of Player Personnel in 2008.

A true New England soccer legend, Burns was born and raised in nearby Marlborough, and was the Massachusetts High School Player of the Year in 1987 following his senior season at Marlborough High School. After a standout career at Hartwick College (1988-91), Burns became a regular for the U.S. National Team, earning 75 caps and starting two games for the U.S. in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He was also a member of the 1994 U.S. World Cup squad.

Burns was the first player in U.S. Soccer history to represent the United States at every level of FIFA-sanctioned tournaments: Under-16 World Cup (Canada 1987), Under-20 World Cup (Saudi Arabia 1989), Olympic Games (Barcelona 1992) and World Cup (United States 1994, France 1998).

Burns was allocated to the Revolution in 1995 at the inception of MLS and he played for – and  captained – New England from 1996 to 2000, before finishing his playing career with the San Jose Earthquakes (2000) and the Kansas City Wizards (2001-02).  Overall, he made 169 appearances, scoring three goals and adding 21 assists. Burns also played for Viborg in the Super League in Denmark in 1995 before joining MLS. 

In addition to his day-to-day duties with the Revolution, Burns serves on U.S. Soccer’s Referee Committee, MLS’ Technical Committee, MLS’ Combine Committee and MLS’ working group on officiating. Prior to returning to the Revolution in a management capacity, Burns served on the MLS Disciplinary Committee, and was also a member of U.S. Soccer’s Board of Directors and the U.S. Soccer Athlete Counsel.

Burns holds a USSF “A” coaching license. He also is a member of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of MetroWest that includes Marlborough, Hudson and Framingham.  

Burns lives in the suburbs west of Boston with his wife, Jen, and their three children: Kayla (13), Trevor (11) and Garrett (7).