Former New England star Joe-Max Moore received a phone call and an intriguing offer earlier this year from a member of the Revolution front office.
The proposal: a chance to return to Gillette Stadium to serve as honorary captain for the home opener against Toronto FC.
Moore decided quickly that he wanted to temporarily return to the club where he played from 1996-99 and 2003-04 and collected 41 goals and 35 assists.
“It didn't take long,” Moore said. “Lizz [Summers, Revolution director of communications] called and I immediately told my wife that we had the chance to go back, visit some of our friends and see the first Revs game this season. Absolutely, we took them up on the offer immediately.”
The former U.S. international striker spent Saturday night visiting his old haunts and reconnecting with familiar faces. As he soaked in the atmosphere and reveled in the Revolution's 4-1 victory over the Reds, Moore said he enjoyed the opportunity to spend some time back in Foxborough.
“It's been fun, getting to see a lot of old friends and fans and letting my son to run out on the field and go in the locker room,” Moore said. “I developed a good relationship with the fans of the team and the people of the city. It's been a great time—I loved my time here.”
When asked to pinpoint the pinnacle of his days with the Revs, Moore pondered his choices and eventually plumped for his midseason arrival and his torrid goalscoring spell—11 goals in 14 games— during his first year in New England.
“It's hard to say,” Moore said. “There were so many good times. We never got to the point where we won a championship while I was here or anything, but I think the best time I spent here was the beginning, to be honest. Back in 1996, the inaugural year, I came in halfway through the year from Germany and I think I played 13 or 14 games and I scored quite a few goals and the team nearly made it all the way into the playoffs. From a personal aspect, that was the best few months I spent with the team.”
After retiring in January 2005, Moore said he spent a couple of years enjoying the company of his family before starting his own business. While Moore doesn't rule out a return to his old life in soccer as a coach some day, he said his current life dominates his focus right now.
“I'm just enjoying life, to be honest,” Moore said. “I help my son's soccer team from time to time. He's playing club soccer in California now. I do a stay-at-home marketing business, so I'm just enjoying that.”
