Bob Bradley

Lore & Background

Bradley was born and raised in New Jersey, playing soccer at West Essex High School and Princeton University. After graduating, he briefly worked in the Procter & Gamble executive training program before entering Ohio University's sports management graduate school in 1981. While there, he became head coach of the Ohio University Bobcats' NCAA Division I soccer program at age 22. After two seasons, he worked as an assistant coach and scout for University of Virginia manager Bruce Arena for two years before taking the top job at Princeton, leading the Tigers from 1984 to 1995, winning two Ivy League titles and reaching the NCAA Final Four in 1993.

In 1996, he became Arena's assistant at D.C. United, then became the first head coach of the Chicago Fire in 1998, winning the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup double in his first season and being named MLS Coach of the Year. He won a third trophy in 2000 with the Open Cup. After the 2002 season, he resigned to become head coach of the MetroStars, leading them to the U.S. Open Cup final in 2003 and a playoff berth. He was fired with three games left in the 2005 season.

He then coached Chivas USA in 2006, leading them to a third-place finish in the Western Conference. In December 2006, he was appointed interim coach of the U.S. men's national team, becoming permanent in May 2007. He won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, finished runner-up in the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2009 and 2011 Gold Cups, and led the U.S. to the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup. He was relieved of his duties on July 28, 2011.

On September 14, 2011, he agreed to manage the Egypt national team, starting October 15, 2011. Egypt was perfect in its first six World Cup qualifiers but lost to Ghana in the third round playoffs, and Bradley was not retained. On January 2, 2014, he agreed to manage Stabæk in Norway. On October 3, 2016, he was appointed manager of Swansea City, becoming the first American to manage a club in a European top flight.

He was sacked on December 27, 2016, after 85 days and 11 games, with a record of 8 points from 33 and 29 goals conceded.

Reader's Guide

Bradley is known for his tactical adaptability and his ability to rebuild struggling teams, as seen with Chivas USA and Stabæk. His tenure at Swansea City was brief and marked by heavy defeats, but his earlier successes include winning the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup with the Chicago Fire in 1998 and leading the U.S. to a historic upset over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Did You Know?

• He led the U.S. to a 2–0 semifinal victory over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup, ending Spain's 35-game unbeaten streak.
• Bradley exploited an MLS rule in 2004 by switching goalkeeper Tim Howard into an outfield player so forward Andy Herron could enter as a goalkeeper, then switching back after ten seconds.