Bradley Tipped For NYRB Head Coach Role

Update: On December 15, Bradley was formally announced as head coach of the New York Red Bulls.

Former Toronto FC Captain Michael Bradley has been labelled a frontrunner for the New York Red Bulls post.

The 38-year-old would be stepping into the role having impressed with his coaching of the club’s MLS Next Pro side after helping the youngsters to an MLS Next Pro Cup victory since joining in the summer.

It’s a move that would complete a full circle moment: Bradley got his career started with the side back in its MetroStars era, eventually rising to play in Europe and later captaining both the US National Team and Toronto FC, making just north of 300 appearances for the latter and helping the Reds to a historic treble in 2017.

It was shortly after his retirement with Toronto FC that Bradley followed his father to Norway to assist with Stabaek, after which he gained some experience assisting the Canadian national team under Jesse Marsch.

See Also: Bradley On Staebek, TFC, And A Coaching Career

Another key factor in the decision is New York Red Bulls sporting director Julian De Guzman, a former TFC designated player who joined NYRB from the Simcoe County Rovers last year.

De Guzman likes the playing identity Bradley has built with Red Bulls II and is reportedly keen to bring that philosophy up to the first team.

The New York Red Bulls coaching post has been vacant since October, when the club let Sandro Schwarz go after the team failed to crack a playoff spot for the first time in 15 years. They finished tenth, two spots ahead of Toronto FC in the east. Schwarz had held the post since December 2023.

While the appointment of Michael Bradley to the vacant NYRB post isn’t official, he rings in as a heavy favourite.