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. Sons have it rough in the league; Nigel Clough’s manager father, Brian, refused to call the younger Clough by his first name, electing to refer to him as “our number 9” instead. Contrary to popular belief, fathers who manage their sons might actually treat them more harshly than the rest of the team. Manager fathers, it seems, may be far tougher on their offspring than they are on the majority of the team. Whether trying not to give too much leeway or trying not to crack down too hard, managers face a problematic conundrum.
Bob Bradley and his son are hoping to avoid this kind of problem when they compete in the South African based World Cup Finals this summer.
Michael Bradley was born in Princeton, New Jersey when Bob was the coach of the Princeton University soccer team. As a youngster, when Bob moved to Illinois to coach the Chicago Fire in the MLS, Michael was brought up in Palatine and at an early age, grew to love the game in the same way as his father.
Due to his excellence in the Junior leagues, Michael was drafted in the 2004 MLS Superdraft, the team which his father coached. 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. The midfielder was eventually chosen by Borussia Moenchengladbach, and has done well for the German team, playing in no less than 58 games and scoring seven goals for the team.
On the back of such impressive performances, Bradley’s promotion to the National Team ranks was assured. When his father Bob became coach in late 2006, Michael had already made his first appearance and under his father, Michael has become a key man at the heart of the US midfield, with his intelligent play and clever passing key in allowing more offensive players like Landon Donovan free reign to get forward.
Both Bradley men have much to be proud of this summer, when the two will bring the US to compete in South Africa with dreams of winning it all.
Tags: soccer, soccer news, usa soccer, World Cup