Michael Bradley aims to reshape New York Red Bulls in first head coaching role

Michael Bradley kept the New York Red Bulls job quiet until pen had hit paper, telling only his wife and his parents. On the eve of his first senior head coaching match, he spoke from a room in the bowels of Sports Illustrated Stadium about stepping into his first role leading a first team.

Bradley arrives with a long playing résumé — he captained club and country — and a coaching apprenticeship that included learning from his father, Bob, and early conversations with Jurgen Klopp and the Red Bull organisation. His short spell as head of Red Bulls II ended with a championship and a side that played some of the best football in the league, making this a natural next step.

The club had begun to feel stale: a predictable high-press 4-2-2-2 identity under Sandro Schwarz and a first absence from the playoffs in 15 years prompted change.

United States, New York

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