Jermaine Jones the key to why Revolution are in MLS Cup

Midfielder Lee Nguyen was named to MLS’ Best XI (their all-league team) on Tuesday and is an MVP candidate, while homegrown forward Charlie Davies is the inspirational figure on a goal-scoring tear in the postseason (four goals). But the fact remains that Jermaine Jones was the main figure in turning everything around for New England this summer. The Revs are 11-1-2 since they acquired the US national team midfielder in August and it’s important to note that this is a team that suffered through an eight-game losing streak in the middle of the season (something no other MLS Cup finalist had done before now). New England already had plenty of talent before Jones’ arrival, but there’s no doubt he was the missing piece that brought them all together.

Jones is the oldest active player on the Revolution, at age 33, and is closer in age to head coach Jay Heaps (38) than many of his new teammates who are fresh out of college. While Jones felt his age after Saturday’s draw vs. New York that advanced New England, 4-3, on aggregate, he absolutely appreciates the opportunity in front of him. “We’ve had a lot of progression from the beginning,” Jones said. “It was easy to come [to New England] because it’s like a big family. You can see it on the field, we like playing with each other.”

Born to a German mother and American father in Frankfurt, Germany, Jones came up with the German national team before changing his allegiance to the US national team, led by German-American head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. With his trademark dreadlocks and numerous tattoos, not to mention his ferocious playing style, Jones undoubtedly brings a distinct attitude every time he suits up.

Casual US soccer fans became aware of Jones during the Brazil World Cup, where was one of the top American players and where he scored one of the more incredible goals of the entire tournament, against Portugal. More than any other player on the Revolution, Jones has an impressive worldly resume with experience at big-time German clubs like Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke 04. This led to appearances in the UEFA Champions League (where he became only the second American ever to score in a knockout round game) and Europa League.

Jones was hoping to see Los Angeles in the MLS Cup as his wife – a former Miss Germany – and his five kids live in Southern California. He also noted that this would be the first time that he’d ever played for a league title, so he realizes opportunities like the one this Sunday (3 p.m., ESPN) don’t come around too often.