Following the conclusion of their season, New England Revolution coach Jay Heaps and general manager Mike Burns both made it a point to let Teal Bunbury know of their desire to have him back with the club in 2015.
Four-and-a-half weeks later they backed up the sentiment, signing Bunbury to a multi-year contract.
Bunbury arrived in New England last season from Sporting Kansas City with only one year remaining on his contract. But with a full season of health and his ability to thrive in a new position, he proved vital to the team’s run to the MLS Cup Final and was rewarded for his efforts.
“I couldn’t be more excited at this point,” Bunbury told MLSsoccer.com. “There’s always a little bit of uncertainty when you’re going into a contract year. You don’t know where you might end up, there’s different places that you might be looking at. I always wanted to stay here in New England.”
Bunbury let Heaps and Burns know his desire to return equaled theirs and the negotiation process began soon after the Revolution fell to the LA Galaxy in last month's championship game.
While both parties began the feeling-out process, Bunbury returned home to Minnesota, did some wedding planning and contemplated his future in the game. He also spoke to other organizations, but was constantly drawn back to the Revolution.
“As a player you always want to play somewhere where the organization wants you to be there," said Bunbury. "I felt that [from New England] throughout this whole process.”
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After unselfishly switching from a central striker role to mainly the right wing in 2014, Bunbury set career-highs in games played (31), minutes (2,446) and assists (6). He scored four goals in the regular season, including two against his former teammates in Kansas City, and made an impact in the postseason, scoring twice and adding two more assists in five matches.
Bunbury credits the competitive nature of the players on the club for guiding his successes on and off the field, and having the opportunity to compete for another MLS Cup with them was ultimately what fueled his decision to return to New England.
“I want to be somewhere where I know what I’m going to get from the guys,” said Bunbury. “I know that they’re going to be able to push me to be the best that I can be and vice versa. Knowing that we have unfinished business was definitely a factor for me.”
