Bradley fired as U.S. coach
U.S. Soccer finally listened to its fans and today fired increasingly isolated U.S. Men's National Team Coach Bob Bradley, a Manhattan Beach resident, after a meeting at Home Depot Center and in the wake of a poor Gold Cup showing.
Here's the full press release from U.S. Soccer:
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced today that Bob Bradley has been relieved of his duties as the head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team."We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years," said Gulati. "During his time as the head coach of our Men's National Team he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change. It is always hard to make these decisions, especially when it involves someone we respect as much as Bob. We wish him the best in his future endeavors."
This announcement comes after a meeting at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., between Gulati, Bradley and U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn.
Bradley was named the head coach of the U.S. MNT in January of 2007 and during his five-year tenure compiled a 43-25-12 record. He led the team to a number of accomplishments, including winning the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, finishing second in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, winning their World Cup qualifying group and advancing to the Round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
U.S. Soccer will have a further announcement on Friday.
Slightly curious timing given the games the U.S. has scheduled this summer. The U.S. faces Mexico Aug. 10 in Philadelphia, Costa Rica Sept. 2 in Carson and Belgium Sept. 6 in Brussels.
And will an interim or permanent coach be announced Friday?
Let the speculation begin.
What do you think of this move?
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Thank you God!
Hopefully Skeletor's replacement is someone who does not have any relatives in the national team pool ...
Take Suni Gulati with you.
Who can forget losing to Ghana in the World Cup after Bradley returned Ricardo Clark to the starting lineup, or taking Robbie Findley to the World Cup! How about moving Eric Lichaj from left back to right back and bringing on Jonathan Bornstein that blew up in his face in the Gold Cup. And the MANY WASTED SUBSTITUTIONS made way too late in the game. Finally, NEVER EVER TAKING OUT YOUR SON FROM THE STARTING LINEUP, even when your son was riding the pine at his club for months on end. Yes, people do notice that huge Conflict of Interest.
Thank you for your service, but in truth, Bradley should have been let go as soon as he lost the Ghana match at the World Cup.
This is a delayed knee-jerk reaction. Should have dismissed old Bob the next day after the Gold Cup final if not after the World Cup exit. I can't accept anyone less than a savvy veteran international coach. I don't expect our players to all of a sudden become world class under a new coach so we need some who can tactically give them a fighting chance.
Next Galaxy coach, after the season ends?
HalLeluiah!!! This also means no more the likes of Robbie Rogers, Sacha Kljestin and JOHNATHAN BORNSTEIN will be called up to camp, YEEESSSSSS!!!!! I hope the replacement is either Kilnsmann or Peter Nowak as they both have been in the US for a while, know MLS and most importantly have INTERNATIONAL experience which has been lacking thru the last 3 coaches we had (Sampson, Arena and Bradley aka Sampson jr.)
Futbol Picante (Mexican Media) on ESPN Deportes is reporting that Suni Gulati will pick Klinsman as the next head coach of the USAMNT. Also reporting that there was a lot of problems in the locker room and that Bradley had lost control of the team, resulting in the benching of Donovan in the Gold Cup and the players not playing well. So the decision was made to fire the coach. Interesting if true.
so long and thanks for all the fish!
The biggest positive impact Bob could have on the USMNT right now is to take Sunil out with him. I know Sunil wants Klinsman real bad, but I'm not sure if he is the man for the job. We need someone who is a tactician and can rebuild the locker-room. He certainly didn't rebuild the locker-room at B-M and I don't remember any tactical brilliance at either German Nats or B-M.
Klinsmann Named Head Coach of U.S. Men's National Team
CHICAGO (July 29, 2011) — U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati named Jürgen Klinsmann as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team today, making him the 35th coach in the history of the program.
“We are excited to have Jürgen as the head coach of our Men’s National Team,” said Gulati. “He is a highly accomplished player and coach with the experience and knowledge to advance the program. Jürgen has had success in many different areas of the game and we look forward to the leadership he will provide on and off the field.”