Photo by ISIphotos.com
Amid a new wave of questionable reports claiming U.S. national team manager Bob Bradley has resigned and is set to be named manager of Aston Villa, Bradley's agent has emerged to shoot down the latest round of rumors.
"All these reports that are coming out saying Bob is quitting (as U.S. national team head coach) are absolutely false," said Ron Waxman, Bradley's New York-based agent.
"Not sure where this stuff comes from but none of it is true."
Internet reports began circulating on Wednesday claiming that Bradley had already quit or was on the verge of quitting or being fired as U.S. coach, but U.S. Soccer sources tell SBI that no decision has been made yet. Bradley remains under contract with the U.S. national team until the end of 2010 and the sides are still in discussions over a new contract.
Could Bradley ultimately wind up being replaced as national team manager? Yes, but no decisions have been made by either side yet. As for the Aston Villa job, sources tell SBI that Villa has yet to speak to new candidates for the position as the club prepares for the start of the season on Saturday.
In short, Bradley is still the U.S. national team head coach.
ok i’m sure this post is going to get lost in the sea of comments, but from what i gathered along with friends that live in britain, this story originated on talkSPORT radio, which is the uk’s leading radio station for sports talk (yes, inherent in the name). the story originated by one of the hosts who is a west ham fan notorious for winding up opposition fans. it somehow got picked up by talksport’s website and spread from there. i sincerely doubt that this story is true as lerner said just yesterday that AV are going to take time looking for a coach.
Firstly, I love how everytime there is talk of somebody vacating a coaching job, or taking a new one, we get to go through this kabooki dance of both sides denying everything…it’s like they think we’re stupid. Does anybody here really think Bradley will be coaching the U.S. in 2014?? It’s not that he’s done a horrible job either. I think he did what he could with the program and had some successes and failures. However, it’s time to breathe some fresh thoughts and approaches into things.
Secondly, I love how some people here emphatically make comments like “He doesn’t have the skill or knowledge to coach in the Premiere League.” On WHAT are these comments based?? He’s coached at multiple levels from college to MLS, as well as the MNT for 3 years. Do people really think he doesn’t understand the game? Having said that, do I always agree with some of his decisions? No. However, what we forget is that he has not had the luxury of being able to work with the depth of talent that some other coaches have. With the U.S. MNT, you’re always having to “make a dollar out of 15 cents.” In some ways, I view some of these other supposedly great coaches or “soccer minds” as failures for not succeeding with the talent they have…Fabio Capello and England comes to mind, so does Dunga and Brazil. How about Maradona and Argentina?
Bradley is a very technical, methodical coach with an intense preparation ethic. I think he holds tremendous potential working with a group of players that can actually execute…
Personally I hope that the USSF does higher Klinnsman…just maybe not as the USMNT Coach. I’d actually preferr it if he took over as the USSF president, and improved the structure of the US Player Development, and Hired a high profile proven international coach.
Unfortunately this won’t happen. The best we can therefore hope for would be to Hire Klinnsman as an advisor/consultant to the USMNT and the USSF and look for a New coach….maybe the coach from NYRB’s would be interested….he’s done well turning that team around.
” poor player choices and having favorites in his team”
You’re right. We shouldn’t have left Diego, Pato and Ronaldinho at home. Oh, wait… that was Brazil.
We certainly shouldn’t have left Cambiasso at home. He’s better than Clark. No, wait. That’s Argentina.
Marcos Senna would have helped. Dammit, that’s Spain.
Totti and Del Piero would have scored more goals than Robbie Freaking Findley. Crap… Italy!
Well, well…. would could have had Heath Pearce and Brian Ching or some of our U-17s! We would have won the Cup!
Damn you, Bob Bradley, for leaving our shining stars at home!
And please give us top ten talent too…please keep in mind BB doesn’t play CB for the USMNT…..
” securing releases of players from MLS”
Do you mean insuring that all of our players our overseas as soon as humanly possible?
If so, that may be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read here, and that’s a bold statement.
Yes. Destroy our expanding first division. Brilliant.
Have you sent your resume to Sunil Gulati yet?
Rooney!
Well said.
Hmm…things must have changed in a couple days. I haven’t checked back but early on the Villa fans I’ve heard from – and quotes from Villatalk.com have been very positive about BB becoming the coach. And they’ve been very supportive of Lerner blaming more O’Neil over valued purchases of bench warmers.
I would be shocked if Villa actually sign Bradley. Although I personally think that he is capable of being a successful manager in the EPL, the risk factor is simply to huge to ignore. He has never coached in England, and has no experience in trying to balance performance in the domestic league with European competitions. Villa has become a big club over the past several years, and I simply can’t see them taking the risk on Bradley – they simply have to much to lose (finances and reputation) by relying on a manager with no experience. If BB really wants to manage in the EPL, his best bet to attach himself to a big club that is willing to take him on as an assistant for a couple of years. Also, Lerner enjoys good standing with the Villa faithful, and I’m sure he does not want to experience the type of mutiny amongst the fans which is occurring in both Liverpool and Manchester. Putting Bradley in charge could lead him down a road of supporter fury that has engulfed other American owners. Just do not see it happening – which is unfortunate because I think that he would do well.
The coaches who want to work, are good and are not in MLS will be under contract with a club and would have to leave midseason to take over in January. The US has already missed the boat for preseason changes in most of the world. It is not clear any MLS coach would be a better (or even as good) than BB. It is not clear under what sort of circumstances any coach (better than BB) from anywhere would agree to take a team that still struggles to find players who can compete at the level the US wishes it could.
Given all that I suspect unless BB gets a very attractive offer from an at least mid-level club in europe that he will remain as the USMNT coach for at least another year.
You mean Klinsi’s flimsy resume of 2 coaching jobs? I’m ok with his hiring but I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t make it to Brasil 2014. He admitted he didn’t take the job for the last cycle because he would have placed more importance on the Copa America than the Gold Cup that led to the Confed Cup run. Does anyone know his interest in MLS. Does he attend games? Does he have a subcription to MLS direct kick? I know we are not going to win the 2014 WC cup but keep in mind no team has ever won the WC with a foreign head coach….
But, as I said above, he’s been at his best in charge of a national team, and working on a youth system that has produced in a big way.
I’m not saying he’s the only choice, but he’d be a good one.
Interesting development that there is no development?
Because he pioneered Germany’s developmental system and setup. That seems to have worked out decently for Germany. He should definitely be given the reins there. I don’t know what else he’d want control over, but if it’s the youth/developmental system and securing releases of players from MLS, I don’t see why he should be denied those. And I don’t know what else he’d really want, it’s not like he’s demanding Sunil washes his car every Tuesday.
Personally, I’m hoping McDonald proves his worth and gets the “caretaker” tag off. Otherwise Jol is going to cost too much. It looks like it may be a race to hire Klinnsman.
Well, Evan, with your bad knee you shouldn’t be throwing anyone.
The faster we hire a new coach, the faster the coach can integrate his system with the players. He gets more time to fix our youth development (which is our biggest problem) and the faster he gets to familiarize himself with our players and infastructure.
Bradley is gone…..
Sorry, I meant to say US Soccer sources. I wouldn’t trust anyone’s agent farther than I could throw them.
That’s the point though, you don’t need to raise their level you need to make them play as a team, erase the nonexistent organization of our defense that made us chase almost every game, and play a system that benefits the best players.
A top manager can do all three of those.
I just cant see a mid-level epl team taking a chance on Bradley. Maybe a relegation-zone team, mid season looking for a fresh start, but not someone with something to lose.
Bradley will not be Villa coach – he doesn’t haven’t the pedigree or knowledge to manage in the Premier League. It’s massively different than MLS or a national team setup. His best bet is to join as an assistant or lower league.
And Klinsmann was very involved in German’s youth setup after he retired which is the one major refresh he wants to see. He has previously been a part of MLS through touching points with Galaxy (to the extend I don’t remember). He took Germany to the semis of the World Cup.
His focus is on youth and with an attacking mindset coupled with typical German efficiency, you can’t ask for a better available manager.
The man is practically begging for the job and has lived in the US long enough to understand a bit of our culture.
To go to another level we need A. a restructure of youth (Jurgen check), B. a coach with experience (check), C. a coach with tactics beyond hoof the ball up to Findley and defend with Bornstein/Clark (check), and a world renowned figure who will offer us more of the limelight and attention we need (check).
IMO Bob has to go, good riddance to bad tactics, poor player choices and having favorites in his team, please bring a real coach to get us in the top 10 teams in the world.
Dude, why are you going around refuting every single post that disagrees with you? You’ve made your point, we get it, now let it rest.
unfortunately Grant Wahl is on vacation
Nuh-uh!
Why? What’s the hurry? The first real step of the next cycle isn’t until January. What’s wrong with letting the process play out a bit? The USSF should rush into a decision because that is what YOU think should happen?
um… Bradley’s agent…
We’re a top 16 side. Toward the bottom of 16, but still in the top 16. As far as scrubs, not true. Any side that has Deuce, Donovan, Howard and Bradley to name a few could never be considered a team of scrubs.
But your point is well taken, Matt. No new coach is going to raise the individual skill level of any player. CAP coached Brazil to a World Cup win, then a few years later failed to transmute lead to gold when he coached a very poor Metrostars team.
He named and directly quoted his agent.
Interestingly, the same “source” that brought us Adu to the Galaxy is bringing us Bradley to Villa.
Sounds like we’ve got a 13 year old with too much time and an internet connection.
There are plenty of “real” soccer journalists in the US. Let’s wait until they tell us something.
How is Klinnsman a “logical” choice. His resume is dubious, at best. And he has very little actual coaching experience.
Time for USSF to poop or get off the pot in regards to Bradley. Look at Germany. They wanted to keep their guy so they locked him down. Argentina and Brazil did not want to keep their guy so they got rid of them. They did not let things drag out.
I think the USSF would like to upgrade but are not sure they can do considerably better. I will say that letting this play out through December is not smart. Make a hire, let whoever it is get to work and use the October friendlies. I just want to them to make a decision.
And what sources has Ives named in this post?
I completely agree with you, Don Joe.
If Adu goes to the Galaxy the deal (paperwork) has to be done by Sunday when the international transfer window closes.
We will only let Bob go if we can upgrade. There are no MLS coaches right now that would do a better job. The only logical choice is Klinsmann.
It’s also crazy to think that we would hire Martin O’Neil, he would be a terrible national team coach for the United States – not to mention he’s obviously a quitter, we don’t need a coach quitting on us in the middle of the qualifying cycle.
Don’t think Lerner will hire him. Aston Villa fans, have already told him they have their pitchforks ready if he does.
As a Villa supporter, it’s just too big of a risk. He hasn’t dealt with this kind of money, or this kind of management before. Of the six people on the Villa shortlist, 90% of Villa fans have him last, or second to last behind Sven.
How does Klinsmann “deserve” any amount of power he wants?
Take a real look at his resume and try to honestly support that claim.
And, hey! Ives not fanning the flames.(for once?)Props.
The fact that they don’t name any sources and push a controversial story. Oi. Not everything on the internet is true.
sorry for the typos
If you think all our players are scrubs, Matt, then you’re an idiot.
Bob is a decent coach. He’ll do fine at Villa. Now, can we get Jurgen or Martin….
Ives, do you believe Bradley is a legit candidate and wil be considered for the Villa job?
Also, off topic but was the Adu to Galaxy rumor just that? A rumor? Any work on where Adu is headed?
The reports got the bookies’ attention. They all have Bradley heavily favored to be the next Villa manager. Of course, that they are still taking bets is a sign that they are still seeking bets and don’t regard it as a done deal.
I’m not sure why there is so much opposition to Bradley. He took a non-top 16 talent team to the top 16 in the world cup. He doesn’t behave like an idiot a la maradona. Oh, well. I guess a new coach will turn our scrubs into Ronaldihno.
I think it will still happen. Of course his agent is going to deny it.
I love watching these things unfold. Unfortunately I don’t ever believe anyone as we routinely see “Player X is very happy at Club Y and has not talked with any other clubs” then he signs with Club Z the next day.
What was questionable about these reports?
Interesting development nonetheless, we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
My guess is that Bradley and the USSF part ways.
My second guess is that Bradley takes the position at Aston Villa.
My third guess is that if the USSF will give Klinsman the power he wants and deserves, he will be the next USMNT coach.
If all of these things fell into place I would be a happy man, but can’t see all of those things happening.