Former EGYPT & USA head coach Bob Bradley is getting his shot at one of the biggest leagues in the world.
The New Jersey native was hired by Premier League side Swansea City AFC on Monday, making him the first American to ever manage a side at the top English level. Circumstances made the hire possible — Swansea got off to a disappointing start with just one win in its first seven matches, and with a new Swansea ownership group led by two Americans, this was going to be Bradley’s chance to break through.
He got it, and it’s hard to argue he doesn’t deserve it. Bradley has a 30-year coaching resume with stops at nearly every level. After rising through the ranks of American college and MLS, Bradley coached the USMNT from 2006 to 2011, overseeing a trip to the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup. Bradley then took over as the national team coach for Egypt, overseeing the team during a period of intense political and social unrest following the massacre at Port Said, a stadium riot which saw 74 people killed and over 500 injured. He then moved on to Stabaek in Norway’s top division, guiding the club to a Europa League appearance despite working with considerably less finances than other teams in the league.
For the last year he’s been the manager of Le Havre in France’s second division, and guided the team to within one goal of promotion despite joining the club midway through last season.
