By Tiffany Williams –
The New York Red Bulls II have appointed former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Michael Bradley as head coach, marking his first professional head coaching position.
Sporting Director Julian de Guzman expressed excitement about Bradley’s potential, noting his impressive playing career as one of America’s greatest soccer players.
Bradley, a Princeton, NJ native, began his coaching career in October 2023 as an assistant coach at Stabæk in Norway. He played professionally for 20 seasons, starting with the Metrostars, where he was the youngest signing in club history. After two seasons, he moved to Europe, featuring for clubs like SC Heerenveen, Borussia Monchengladbach, Aston Villa, Chievo Verona, and AS Roma before joining Toronto FC in 2014. During his decade in Toronto, he made 308 appearances, winning multiple titles, including the 2017 MLS Cup.
On the international stage, Bradley earned 151 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, scoring 17 goals. He captained the team for 44 matches and participated in two FIFA World Cups, including a standout performance in 2010 against Slovenia. He also won two CONCACAF Gold Cups and was named the 2015 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year before announcing his retirement on October 21, 2023.