**Assistant Coach
Kevin Hitchcock At a Glance:
- Mentored Revolution goalkeepers to three consecutive top-two finishes in MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting: Djordje Petrovic (2022) and Matt Turner (2020-21).
- Developed Arsenal's Matt Turner, the United States' starting goalkeeper at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, for three years in New England.
- Assistant coach in charge of goalkeeping joined Revolution in April 2019 with over two decades of coaching experiences in the top flights of England, Qatar, and India.
- Began coaching career in England with stints at Watford FC (2001-04), Blackburn Rovers FC (2004-08), Manchester City (2008-10), Fulham FC (2011), and Queens Park Rangers (2012-15).
- Spent majority of playing career at Chelsea FC, where he won two FA Cups and totaled 96 appearances from 1998-2001.
- Played more than 180 career games with Mansfield Town FC, helping them gain promotion to League One in 1986, and also made 17 appearances with Northampton Town (1990).
Kevin Hitchcock is entering his fifth season as Assistant Coach with the New England Revolution after joining the club on April 30, 2019. Hitchcock works primarily with the club’s goalkeepers and brings more than 20 years of coaching experience to the staff, including stints in England, Qatar, and India, as well as a decorated 18-year playing career in England.
In his four seasons with the Revolution, Hitchcock has seen New England goalkeepers finish in the top two of MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting three consecutive times. Hitchcock oversaw the development of U.S. Men’s National Team and Arsenal FC goalkeeper Matt Turner, the 2021 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Under Hitchcock’s supervision, Turner backstopped the Revolution to a league-record 73 points and New England’s first Supporters’ Shield title in 2021. The Revolution goalkeeper capped both the 2019 and 2020 seasons with top-five finishes in MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting, including second-place honors in 2020 as he backstopped the Revolution to the Eastern Conference Final and a new franchise record for lowest goals-against average.
In 2022, with the arrival of goalkeeper Djordje Petrović, Hitchcock mentored the 22-year-old Serbian international en route to record-setting numbers despite playing only 21 games and at least 1,000 fewer minutes than several of the league’s top keepers. Petrović logged four penalty saves in his debut campaign, the most in an MLS season in five years. Petrović was a finalist for the 2022 Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year honors, finishing second, and the MLS Newcomer of the Year award.
Before joining the Revolution, Hitchcock, who owns a UEFA “A” Goalkeeper License and UEFA “B” Coaching License, spent the previous 18 years as a first-team goalkeeper coach, including nine seasons working with top-flight players in the English Premier League. His experience began with a stint at Watford FC (2001-04), followed by stops at Blackburn Rovers FC (2004-08), Manchester City FC (2008-10), West Ham United FC (2010), Fulham FC (2010-11), and Queens Park Rangers FC (2012-15). In his time with these elite clubs, Hitchcock trained such goalkeepers as Brad Friedel, Joe Hart, Kasper Schmeichel, Shay Given, and Robert Green, among others.
The London native, 60, departed England for Al Arabi Sports Club in Qatar (2015-16), before returning to coach with Birmingham City FC (2016-18). Prior to joining the Revolution, he most recently spent one season as goalkeeper coach with Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC (2018-19).
During his tenure with Blackburn, Hitchcock directed the goalkeepers during one of the most successful periods in club history. In his four years with Rovers, the club reached the FA Cup Semifinals twice, recorded a top-seven finish in the Premier League, and qualified for the UEFA Europa League. He also helped Queens Park Rangers secure promotion to the Premier League following the 2013-14 season, when the club defeated Derby County in the 2013/14 Play-Off Final.
Before launching his coaching career with Watford, Hitchcock totaled nearly 300 appearances as a player in England. His playing career was highlighted by two FA Cup titles, one Cup Winners Cup, and one Super Cup with Chelsea FC. In total, he recorded 96 appearances for The Blues from 1988-2001, also completing loan assignments to West Ham United FC (1993) and Northampton Town FC (1990). Prior to joining Chelsea, he began his senior career with Mansfield Town FC, where he made more than 180 appearances from 1984-88. At the youth level, he played briefly for Chelsea, as well as with Nottingham Forest FC and Barking FC.
Kevin Hitchcock’s Coaching Background
New England Revolution: 2019-Present
Chennaiyin FC: 2018-19
Birmingham City FC: 2016-18
Al Arabi Sports Club: 2015-16
Queens Park Rangers FC: 2012-15
Fulham FC: 2011
Manchester City FC: 2008-10
Blackburn Rovers FC: 2004-08
Watford FC: 2001-04