Exclusive | Michael Bradley opens up to The Post about coming home for first head coaching job with Red Bulls II
It almost feels like destiny that U.S.Men’s National Team great Michael Bradley would begin his coaching career with the New York Red Bulls organization.It was the organization he first played professional soccer for — back when they were still the MetroStars — and now it’s where he will get his first crack at being a head coach, after he was appointed this week to the role for the MLS Next Pro side New York Red Bulls II, the development team for the MLS club.And Bradley couldn’t be happier that all of this is happening in the place he’s always considered “home.”“Home has always been New Jersey,” Bradley told The Post in a phone interview.
“I was born here, lived here for the first 9 or 10 years of my life.And moved, obviously, then moved back later.
Got my start as a professional for this organization.I met my wife here.
… It’s the part of being back here and having the chance to start my head-coaching career in this area, that part is special.”Bradley is bringing a wealth of experience to the Red Bulls II after a lengthy soccer career that included 151 appearances for the National Team — the third most of any USMNT player — captaining the squad for 44 of them and making eight appearances in World Cup matches.He famously scored the tying goal in a 2-2 draw with Slovenia in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup.His club experience spanned 20 years with stints in the MLS, Bundesliga in Germany, the Premier League and Serie A in Italy.
Bradley retired in 2023 after 10 seasons with Toronto FC.Nevertheless, the experience on the pitch doesn’t necessarily mean automatic success as a coach.Bradley was the first to bring that up during a lengthy conversation with The Post — while explaining that having played, he has “lived the ups and the downs and all of the moments along the way that they are in their careers.”“But to be clear, just because you played, or just because you had a long career as a player, that doesn’t guaran...