Soccer Rules

  For better or worse, manager-father, player-son teams are in it together. Those looking to cause shenanigans will claim that favouritism among father and son teams causes problems.  Brian Clough, when he managed his son Nigel at Nottingham Forest, refused to even acknowledge him by his first name, simply referring to Nigel as “our Number 9”.  Managers who manage their sons may, far from being too lenient with their offspring, be too critical. It is a fine balancing act for the manager and the player and it can be problematic.

Not that this will be a problem for Bob Bradley and his son Michael during this summer’s World Cup Finals in South Africa.  One exception to the rule seems to be the Bradley family, US Coach Bob Bradley and his son Michael, who will compete in the World Cup Finals together this summer in South Africa.

Michael Bradley was born in Princeton, New Jersey when Bob was the coach of the Princeton University soccer team.   When Michael was young, his father received a position coaching the MLS Chicago Fire,  and Michael was raised in Palatine, gaining a love for the game that rivalled that of his father.  After Bob gained a position with the Chicago Fire, Michael grew up in Palatine, and began to enjoy the sport immensely.

After an impressive career in Junior leagues, Michael signed up with the MLS Superdraft in 2004 and was selected 36th overall by the New York Metrostars, who just so happened to be coached by his father. Michael’s first professional season didn’t turn out as planned when he suffered an awful foot injury, but his second year kicked off to a fantastic start for both of the Bradleys; Bob succeeded in leading his team to playoffs and Michael played in all but two of the games and headed his first goal to a shocked Chivas USA, securing a spot in the playoffs.

Bradley soon gained attention of foreign teams, leading him to leave the Metrostars in 2006 to play for Holland’s SC Heerenveen team.   Bradley’s success continued with Holland as he played well enough to land the team a place in the UEFA Cup and achieving an incredible 20 goals in the 2007-2008 season.

After Bradley’s success with Holland, bigger clubs started paying attention, including Birmingham City, whose relegation from the Premier League preventing them from getting him in their soccer merchandise. Borussia Moenchengladbach instead snapped up the midfielder and he has become a regular player for the German side, playing 58 times in the Bundesliga and scoring 7 goals.

Michael Bradley’s success so far exceeded expectations that most took it for granted that he would be promoted to the National Team (and he was). Bob Bradley began coaching the team in 2006, leading Michael to become  the core of the US midfield, setting up plays so that offensive players such as Landon Donovan can exercise the freedom to get towards the goal.

The US team is thankful for the father and son duo as they head on to the World Cup Finals in South Africa this summer.