Now in his ninth season at the helm of the Revolution, Steve Nicol is the longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer and is regarded as one of the top tacticians and evaluators of soccer talent in this country. His 98 career victories entering the 2009 season have eclipsed the combined win total (73) of the previous four head coaches in Revolution club history.

Nicol was named head coach of the team on Nov. 6, 2002, after serving as the interim head coach for the final 21 games of the 2002 regular season and the postseason.

In each of his eight seasons with the Revolution, Nicol has guided the club to the MLS Cup Playoffs, including six consecutive Eastern Conference Championship games – an MLS record – between 2002 and 2007, and has four times led the team to MLS Cup (2002, 2005, 2006 & 2007). The Revs are one of just three MLS clubs to return to MLS Cup in back-to-back seasons. Nicol is the only coach in league history to bring the same team to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons, and the Revs also currently hold the league’s current longest postseason appearance streak (eight seasons).

Nicol's hiring marked yet another impressive accomplishment in the Scotland native's distinguished career. During his playing days, Nicol, 47, gained worldwide fame while playing for Liverpool FC in England's top division before moving on to play for Notts County, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers.

Nicol, who was born in Troon, Scotland, began his pro career at the age of 18 with Ayr United before being signed by Liverpool in 1981. At the time, his £300,000 transfer fee was the Ayr United club record.

While with Liverpool, Nicol made 467 appearances as a defender and midfielder and scored 46 goals. He was at the heart of a Liverpool side that won four English League Titles, three FA Cup Titles and the 1984 European Cup. In 1989, his importance to the team was honored when Britain's soccer writers named him Footballer of the Year. Between 1984 and 1992 Nicol appeared 27 times for the Scottish National Team, and started for his country at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Nicol's coaching career began in 1995 when he was named player/manager at Notts County. Four years later, he arrived in New England as a player/assistant coach with the Boston Bulldogs. In September 1999, he joined the Revs as interim coach for the final two games of the season, both Revolution victories. He returned to the Bulldogs as a player/coach for the 2000 and 2001 seasons before re-joining the Revs as an assistant coach prior to the 2002 campaign.

Nicol was named the 2002 MLS Coach of the Year after leading the Revolution to MLS Cup, played before a record crowd at the new Gillette Stadium. In 2003 and 2004, he led the Revs to return trips to the conference final, falling in overtime and penalty kicks, respectively. He coached the Revs to his second MLS Cup final in 2005, after winning the Eastern Conference Championship with New England for a second time. Since 2005, Nicol has guided the Revs back to MLS Cup with two more Eastern Conference Championship titles and helped the team set the MLS record for consecutive appearances in the conference championship with six (2002-07).

Nicol was also honored for his coaching excellence in August 2005, when he was chosen to lead the MLS Select XI against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeau Stadium. In 2007, Nicol added to his coaching honors when he led the 2007 MLS All-Stars to a victory over Scottish giant Celtic FC in the 2007 Sierra Mist All-Star Game. In 2008, Nicol extended MLS’ winning streak against foreign competition in the All-Star Game, when his all-star squad topped West Ham United, 3-2.

Nicol holds a USSF “A” coaching license. In addition to his coaching duties, Nicol is also a guest analyst for ESPN International and ESPN’s weekly “Press Pass” show.

Nicol resides in the western suburbs of Boston with his wife, Eleanor. The couple has two adult children, Michael and Katy, and one grandson, Patrick.