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MLS New York Red Bulls

Bob Bradley Joins MetroStars As Head Coach

October 22, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


SECAUCUS, NJ (October 22, 2002) - Bob Bradley, the winningest coach in Major League Soccer history, today was named head coach of the MetroStars.

Bradley, a native of Essex Fells, NJ who won a state championship at West Essex High School, played collegiately at Princeton and later coached the Tigers to the NCAA Final Four, becomes the first New Jersey-born head coach in the team's history.

"This is a special day for the MetroStars," said team President/General Manager Nick Sakiewicz. "Bob Bradley has established himself as the premier coach in MLS over the past five seasons, and we feel extremely proud and extremely fortunate to be able to bring him back home, to his New Jersey roots, to lead our team into a new era that we believe, now more than ever, includes an MLS Cup title."

The MetroStars had received permission from the Chicago Fire to talk to Bradley, who was still under contract with the team he had coached since its inception in 1998. In return for the right to sign Bradley, the MetroStars sent Rodrigo Faria and a conditional 2004 MLS SuperDraft pick (the MetroStars choice of at least the 12th overall pick or a higher pick) to Chicago as compensation.

"My family and I are thrilled to be coming home to New Jersey," said Bradley. "This is a tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to getting started as soon as possible."

Bradley, 44, coached the Chicago Fire from the team's inception in 1998 through the just-completed 2002 season. He coached the Fire to both the MLS Cup title and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in the team's very first season, earning 1998 MLS Coach of the Year honors along the way, and guided the Fire to the MLS Cup finals and another U.S. Open Cup title in 2000.

In five years with Chicago, Bradley compiled a regular-season record of 82-54-15 (.593), tying him with Thomas Rongen for most wins in league history. He also compiled an MLS playoff record of 13-8-2 (.609), guiding his team to the postseason every year and to at least the MLS Cup semifinals in four of five seasons.

Born in Montclair, Bradley played high school soccer under legendary coach Ralph Dougan at West Essex HS in North Caldwell, leading the team to the Group III state championship in 1973. After graduating from West Essex in 1976, Bradley moved on to play four years at Princeton, leading the team in scoring as a senior in 1979 and earning All-Ivy League honorable mention.

Upon graduation, Bradley accepted the head coaching position at Ohio University, guiding the Bobcats to a 10-5-2 record in 1981. He then accepted an assistant coaching position on Bruce Arena's staff at the University of Virginia, where over the next two seasons the Cavaliers posted a 32-7-2 record.

Following the 1983 season, Bradley returned to Princeton as head coach, and over the next 11 seasons he built the Tigers into an Ivy League and NCAA powerhouse. From 1984-95, Bradley's teams won two Ivy titles and earned three NCAA tournament bids, and in 1993 Bradley's Tigers advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first-and only--time in school history.

Bradley reunited with Arena in 1996, joining Arena's staff as an assistant coach at D.C. United for the inaugural season of Major League Soccer. Over the next two seasons, D.C. United proceeded to win the first two MLS Cup championships and also captured the U.S. Open Cup title in 1996.

Bradley earned his bachelors degree in history from Princeton in 1980, and also earned a masters degree in sports administration from Ohio University in 1982. He and his wife Lindsay are the parents of three children-son Michael, 15, who is currently in residence as a member of the U.S. under-17 national team pool in Bradenton, FL; daughter Kerry, 13, and daughter Ryan, 11.

Bradley's brother Scott, the head baseball coach at Princeton, was a major league catcher for nine seasons, playing with the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. His brother Jeff, a feature writer for ESPN The Magazine, was also the first director of public relations for the MetroStars, serving in that capacity during the team's first two seasons in 1996 and 1997.

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