It isn't enough for Chris Tierney to secure a new deal with his hometown New England Revolution. He craves more success.
Yes, the prospect of extending his tenure with the team provides some satisfaction, Tierney said. He arrived as a supplemental pick in 2008. Most players in a similar position wash out of the league without making much of an impact.
Tierney survived by grinding out his existence and improving with each passing year. He emerged as a consistent contributor as the roster churned all around him. He weathered a coaching change and a philosophical overhaul to persevere as the regular choice at left back and rack up more than 100 appearances for the club.
All of those accomplishments – including his continued procession up the ranks in the club's record books – function as part of the past and serve as the foundation for the future. And Tierney, 27, believes his best years are still ahead of him.
“My personal goal is to get better every year,” Tierney told MLSsoccer.com on Monday. “I'm confident that I'm meeting that goal. I believe I'm at an age in my career where I can continue to improve. I want to continue to be consistent and offer my leadership going forward.”
Tierney said this year supplies ample hope for the collective development of the side. He cited the uptick in the results and the renewed energy within the ranks after Jay Heaps' arrival last year. And he noted that he is now a senior member of the squad with the responsibility to propel the Revs' playoff charge for the remainder of the campaign.
“Chris is a very versatile player and gives us a lot of options,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement released on Monday. “He is a great leader on and off the field, and has been one of our most consistent and productive players the last few seasons, so we’re very pleased he’s decided to sign a new contract to remain in New England.”
And Tierney is pleased, too. The agreement gives him even more time to keep pushing forward and trying lift himself and his club to new heights over the next few years.
