Bob Bradley Staying on as USA Coach Until 2014. Why It’s the Right Move.

August 30th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

images Seems those recent Jürgen Klinsmann to coach USA rumours were as baseless as, well, as a story with no identifiable source. Because current coach Bob Bradley has now signed a contract extension to coach the US national team until the end of 2014. I know that this probably will not be popular with a vocal section of US fans, but here’s how US Soccer explained their decision:

U.S. Soccer has agreed to a contract extension with U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley. The agreement with Bradley, who guided the U.S. team to numerous achievements including finishing in first place in their group at the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 80 years, will keep him at the helm through the end of 2014.

Frankly, I think I agree with Sunil Gulati and co. I know a lot of US fans are impatient and wanted a more glamorous name in charge of the team. But I’m thinking this is the right move. Here’s why:

Bob Bradley really did lead the US team to the top of World Cup group for the first time. That’s progress. Sure he made a mistake in starting Ricardo Clark against Ghana. But is Ricardo Clark really so bad that giving him a shirt is a sackable offence? The answer is no, it’s not. Don’t forget that Bradley’s USA team also beat Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup and came thisclose to taking down Brazil and winning the whole thing too.

I’d also argue that there seems to be a genuine team spirit around the US team at the moment. A genuine positive vibe. Why ruin that by removing the man who created it? Most importantly, there was no viable replacement. Guus Hiddink is working for Turkey and Jürgen Klinsmann apparently isn’t interested. Last but not least, Bob Bradley is probably the most qualified American coach for the job right now.

I’d argue that being American is uniquely important for the US job. Not necessarily for patriotic reasons (though I suppose that helps) but more because US Soccer and Major League Soccer and the whole American system is a labyrinth of quirks that only a coach like Bradley who knows that world can navigate successfully.

So no, four more years of Bob Bradley may not be the most glamorous option. But if US fans want the team to continue making steady progress between now and 2014, then it might be the right one.

- Melissa over at the USA blog has taken the decision as a mixed blessing, and is preparing for “four more years of sideline scowls and the most magnificent sweatpants collection in FIFA.”

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fcbayernfan

I haven't met a “american soccer fan” EVER….This isn't related to the news or anything but let's see, when Maradona got kicked out of the team, in Argentina that's all you heard about, that's ALL you heard about, in news and everywhere…. Do you think ANYONE on the streets in America EVER HEARD OF BOB BRADLY? lol.

The soccer fans in the U.S are foreign, meaning they support their countries (even if they were born here, and their parents born here)…
yulles

Hi, my name's Jason. Now you have met an American soccer fan and you can keep your foolish comments to yourself. Just because our parents and our grandparents were born elsewhere doesn't mean that we don't support OUR national team. So what if the man on the street doesn't know who Bob and his son Mikey are. They also don't know what/where Bayern is. Of course this won't be headline news as America isn't a soccer mad country, but it did make the front page of ESPN.

On topic, I like this move. Sometimes his tactics can be called into question, but it isn't really his fault that he didn't have more than Jozy up top.
fcbayernfan

Im not saying it's bad to support the U.S, I support the U.S to do good, but I'm not going to go nuts about the United States, because I know that no'one cares about “soccer” here.

It should at least make the news, at our local news stations, I live in NY, and I haven't heard ANYTHING EVER EVER EVER about the NY Red Bulls, I just want it to make a news ONCE.

There is news about Golf all day, but soccer isn't ever? That's all im saying.

That's why this news isn't going to “matter” that much, Sunil or w.e his name is knows this..

The only footballer that anyone here that's not foreign (im not saying wasn't born here) know is Beckham…

On the news, bad bad move for US soccer, if Klinsmann would've came, we would've got some people to notice soccer.
http://liverpool.theoffside.com Ed

I think you're talking more about the concept of being an American soccer fan on a “forest” level, and you're probably right–it's not widespread water cooler talk or spilling into the streets type stuff here other than once every four years (and maybe that's pushing it). It's not right or wrong, but that's generally the way it is in America. Whether or not that justifies egregious use of caps lock is up for debate.

I'm not sure what you mean by “foreign” in this context, though, even with your clarification. Foreign in that they're/we're not the majority?

But to say that there aren't fans of American soccer is, respectfully, just wrong. I think the past few years have seen a huge increase in knowledgeable fans of soccer and world football in the US (and there's been more than enough for many years), and I think it's disrespectful to those folks to suggest otherwise.

Anyway, I don't know that I can count myself among the knowledgeable, but I'm working at it, and I even know who Bob Bradley is! Meet me in the streets!
http://vancouver.theoffside.com brentonwalters

There's no good excuse for caps lock. EVER. Hah.

Bradley was in over his head but did well despite this. At least he realize the mistakes he made and tried to correct them, though I do think his man management must be better than his tactical skills, because he sure got his team ready for games and they never gave up, but they also, never seemed ready to play against their opponents.
omeidheidari

well i disagree with fcbayernfan. Team USA is my team and always will be. I was born in the US with parents who immigrated from Iran but i'd support the yanks over team melli anyday.
I agree with Daryl on this post, Bradley is a good option, but only if he can get the US to turn out more positive results in the Gold Cup while still experimenting with fresh players along the way. I hope he learn from his mistakes and US soccer continues to grow
http://twitter.com/TheGozGuy Goz

this is NOT the right move. even if they were in a jam, you give him TWO years and keep your options open. this guts the fan base. we're devastated at this news. why didnt you include in this article any info on how we can vote out gulati?
yulles

It isn't about getting people to notice the team or the sport for that matter. Yes it would be great if the Red Bulls made the local broadcast for something they did on the field. But that doesn't matter. The point is to win games. I don't know if Klinsmann would have been any better at that than Bradley. Lots of flash but the US doesn't need flash. They need someone who can make the team greater than the sum of its parts and that is something that Bradley does very well.
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Jean-François Racinet

I think that it's good for USA to have an American coach. I think that if the players have to be a citizen of the nation they represent then the coaches and FA Members should be as well. Unfortunately we only have one who is capable though, and that's Bob Bradley.
TewDollars

Does the contract really have to be through 2014?
Even many public offices don't last that long.
Oh well. I'll be watching the US closely as I always do.
TewDollars

FWIW – The San Diego Union Tribune had a discussion on the front page of the sport's section by Mark Ziegler on Bob Bradley's contract extension. And this even on with the Padres 6 games ahead in the division plus SDSU & Chargers games.