There is a new Bradley taking over a Main League Soccer teaching gig as Michael Bradley will lead the subsequent period of the New York Purple Bulls after successful the MLS Subsequent Professional title in 2025 with their youth squad, RBNY II. Bradley has been on the quick monitor, rising by means of the teaching ranks with this appointment coming solely six months after he started his tenure with Subsequent Professional facet.
The son of legendary American coach Bob Bradley, Michael is not far faraway from his taking part in profession, which resulted in 2023 with Toronto FC. He adopted that by becoming a member of his dad as an assistant with Stabaek in Norway earlier than coming again stateside to affix the Purple Bulls system. For a staff that has been set for years within the Purple Bull world taking part in model, Bradley will supply a breath of recent air to a system that wants it after seeing a 15-year streak of consecutive appearances within the MLS postseason come to an finish, one 12 months faraway from shedding within the 2024 MLS Cup to the Los Angeles Galaxy.
“I’m excited for the chance to be head coach of the membership that I began my skilled profession with and in addition within the state that I name dwelling,” Bradley stated. “I am wanting ahead to working alongside everybody right here and doing my half to assist this membership obtain the success our followers deserve.”
The staff that Bradley started his taking part in profession with, the New York MetroStars, might not exist in identify, however turning into the top coach of the membership lengthy after its change to Purple Bulls is a big step in Bradley’s teaching profession after a 20-year taking part in profession. It could be early on in his teaching journey, however with him taking cost in MLS, it is also arduous not to consider what might be subsequent if Bradley does properly with the Purple Bulls.
Because of the world system of the Purple Bulls, success right here may see Bradley find yourself at RB Salzburg in Austria to proceed to develop as a coach within the European Leagues in an analogous path that led to Jesse Marsch ultimately transferring to the Premier League, however there’s additionally one other path that even one profitable season in MLS may open for the American.
Mauricio Pochettino is out of contract with the USA males’s nationwide staff following the 2026 World Cup, and if he finally ends up going again to Europe to teach a membership staff, there is no motive why Bradley would not enter the dialog. Jim Curtin and Steve Cherundolo are each skilled American coaches who’re free brokers in the meanwhile, however with every having private causes for not taking sure jobs, it is unknown if they might be able to take the position if it had been to open.
If U.S. Soccer needed to try an American to bear a long-term position, there can be worse locations to look than with somebody who has 151 caps for the nationwide staff, the third most in historical past, whereas additionally representing the USMNT at two World Cups in 2010 and 2014.
Earlier than any of this may be thought-about, what Bradley does with the Purple Bulls in 2026 shall be vital, however there is no motive why his teaching star will not proceed to rise if he is capable of oversee a rebuild with the squad and lead them again to the MLS Cup Playoffs. Teaching is in Bradley’s blood, and now, with a brand new MLS season upcoming, it’s going to be an opportunity to see what he can do underneath strain with the stakes even greater.
