The "Scudetto Era" and the New England Revolution's Tragedies in MLS

The MLS’s attempt to bring the "scudetto" into the game is a classic case of America’s knack for blending, innovating, and crafting its own spin on things. Back in 2006, Major League Soccer introduced a badge that, hopefully, would bring a bit of pride and tradition to its champions. Inspired by Italy’s iconic scudetto, MLS wanted to make the league title memorable, aiming to make champions instantly recognizable for the following season.

In 2006, as the reigning champs of the 2005 MLS Cup, the Los Angeles Galaxy sported a badge that carried, in its subtle lines, the weight of being the best team in the league. In the stands, fans pointed with pride to the triangular badge, adorned in American flag colors and displaying the Alan I. Rothenberg trophy at its center. This first version, infused with a sense of patriotism, looked promising; however, it ultimately felt more like a fleeting design exercise than something that genuinely captured the champions' spirit.

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Then in 2008, MLS revamped the badge into an oval design featuring the Philip F. Anschutz trophy at the center. But the truth is, the scudetto idea never fully took off, and by 2012, MLS pulled the plug on it. From that point on, champions sported only a golden star, with additional silver stars marking previous victories. The scudetto turned into a short-lived dream, vanishing with the relentless breeze of change in American soccer.

While the Los Angeles Galaxy proudly displayed MLS's first scudetto, another story was unfolding on the flip side—the tragic finals run of the New England Revolution. The Revolution reached the final three times in a row, from 2005 to 2007, but walked away defeated each time. The repetition of heartbreak even earned them the nickname "the Buffalo Bills of MLS," referencing the NFL team that famously lost four consecutive Super Bowls in the '90s.

In 2005, the Revolution clashed with the Galaxy in a rematch of the 2002 final, only to watch their dreams shatter once again at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. A goal by Guatemalan Guillermo Ramírez, scored in the first half of extra time, snuffed out any hope for the Boston team.

And then, 2006 arrived, bringing even more anguish. The Revolution were back in the final, this time against the Houston Dynamo. In a gut-wrenching replay of their nightmares, they struck first with a goal from Taylor Twellman. But, as if fate was playing a cruel game, Dynamo equalized, and in the penalty shootout that followed, the Revolution found themselves staring down defeat once more.

The final blow came in 2007. Another face-off with the Houston Dynamo was set, this time in Washington, D.C., in front of over 39,000 fans. The Revolution came out strong, scoring first, only to have Dynamo level the score in the second half and then take the lead. Three years in a row, three finals, three losses. In 2007, the Revolution had their shot at a "Double," but even after clinching the Open Cup, they couldn’t turn that dream into reality, leaving with that all-too-familiar bitter taste.

Those years left a deep mark on MLS. While the Galaxy and Dynamo lifted trophies, the Revolution felt glory slip right through their fingers. That scudetto, which was supposed to be a symbol of pride for champions, maybe represented that pride for a brief moment—but it quickly got lost in MLS’s constant quest for reinvention. And while the New England Revolution didn’t take home any trophies in those trying years, they walked away with a story.