Being the son of a team manager has both many benefits and a myriad of drawbacks. Complaints of nepotism abound in soccer, and are often submitted by team troublemakers. Nigel Clough is well acquainted with the difficulties of being the son of a team manager; his father Brian Clough, while managing Nigel at Nottingham Forest, refused to address his son by name, calling Nigel “our number 9”. 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.
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. 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.
His energetic performances at the heart of midfield as an anchor for Metrostars had caught the eye in foreign climes and in January 2006, New York Metrostars allowed Bradley to leave the club when he was sold to SC Heerenveen of Holland. Bradley quickly impressed the Dutch, playing a key role in the club achieving a place in the UEFA cup and, the following season, scoring an impressive 20 goals in 2007-2008.
Bradley’s success soon attracted the attention of bigger clubs wanting him in their soccer merchandise, like Birmingham City, who wanted to sign Bradley but could not due to the relegation handed down from the Premier League. 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. Bob, the elder Bradley, began coaching the US team, and the pair worked together to bring Michael to his current role as the meat of the US midfield sandwich, helping offensive players like Landon Donovan to score big for the team.
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.
