This time last year, the New York Red Bulls ended their season with a resounding 5-0 victory over Toronto FC in their final game at Giants Stadium. That result, however, was a complete anomaly in what was a disastrous season for the Red Bulls, who finished with a league-worst 21 points from 30 games.

Fast forward 12 months, and the Red Bulls ended the season with a 2-0 victory over New England, which ensured the team first place in the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs.

Not since 2000 has the team headed into the playoffs with such anticipation from the fans, and thanks to a couple of key midseason additions, they are arguably the league's leading franchise in commercial impact on the sport in the United States.

As the team prepares to face San Jose in the first round of the playoffs, let's study some of the key reasons that jolted the biggest turnaround in MLS history (ironically, the 2000 New York franchise is the team they are tied with)!

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