Bob Bradley '80 named national team coach

Princeton has always produced national leaders in Congress and in the business world, but now it has one on the soccer pitch.

Bob Bradley '80 was named interim coach for the U.S. national soccer team following the exit of Bruce Arena after the 2006 World Cup and a failed attempt to sign former Germany coach Juergen Klinnsman. Bradley has been signed for the next six months, after which the United States Soccer Federation will resume its search with Bradley as a candidate.

Bradley, who graduated from Princeton with a degree in history, led the Tigers in scoring as a senior. After assuming the Princeton head coaching job in 1984, Bradley clinched two Ivy League titles (1988, 1993) and reached the NCAA Final Four in 1993. His reign at Princeton saw him amass a 92-80-15 record.

Bradley has the most illustrious career of any Major League Soccer manager, as he holds the current record for most wins in MLS history with 124. In his first year as a head coach for the expansion Chicago Fire, he led the team to the MLS Cup and US Open Cup double in 1998 and was named MLS Coach of the Year in the process.

"I would say the most memorable moment in my career was the first year in Chicago," said Bradley. "We had a group of players that really came together."

But this was only the start of his show, as he was part of the successful U.S. team that rose to the final eight in the 2002 World Cup. His motivational skills also brought together an underachieving team in Chivas USA, leading the Red-and-White to a third place finish in the Western Conference this year.

He was again named MLS Coach of the Year for his success and takes the helm of the national team as the only two-time MLS Coach of the Year.

Despite his managerial feats, Bradley is taking a careful approach to his job.

"Without a doubt, the international game is different," Bradley said from his home n California. "The pressure of qualifying is intense. I've been part of the national team in qualifying games in the past, so I understand that. But there are parts of building a team that is not altogether too different [from MLS]. So I think the important part is understanding that international soccer is a greater challenge."

Bradley recognized that there are several distinct challenges in coaching the national team.

"This is the start of a new cycle. The transition at this point includes the fact that a number of experienced players — like Brian McBride, Claudio Reyna and Eddie Pope — have retired from international competition. I think early in the process it will be a challenge as we begin to look at some of the younger players and start to build a group that will be ready for qualifying [for the 2010 World Cup] and eventually be ready."

But Bradley also emphasized the need for balance in the team.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"There are a number of important players who have now been part of the last two World Cup teams. I think in the cases for those players they remember the success from 2002 and they haven't forgotten the disappointment from 2006 so it's imperative that that group of players serve as good examples to help instill a good mentality — you hope to put a good mix of young talents into the group so that the team has balance."

In all fairness, however, bringing in a good batch of budding talents is something the national team won't have to worry too much about under its new administration.

Bradley has a keen eye for spotting and developing young talents. He has nurtured American talents like DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra and more recently his own son Michael, who now plies his trade for the Dutch team SC Heerenveen.

His ability to develop American talents is one of his unique traits that make him a coach who can understand American soccer superbly.

"I think that I have a good understanding of the work that goes on inside everyday," said Bradley. "The type of mentality, the trust, the communication. All the little things that are so important on the inside everyday. And I think what goes with that is that I have a good understanding of American players. I've coached a lot of the players in the current pool, I've been in MLS for 11 years, I've been in college soccer and youth programs. I think I understand the soccer in us — the environment."

Bradley has kept close ties with Princeton. Jim Barlow '91, the current head coach for Princeton's men's soccer team, is a player Bradley found.

"He was a great player and I'm incredibly proud of the job he does now with the team," he said. It remains uncertain, however, whether Bradley will make it to next year's reunions, due to match fixtures. "In the last couple of years I haven't been able to make it. But we'll see this year."