Bob Bradley signed on for a second cycle as U.S. national team head coach a little less than a year ago, but that term has prematurely come to a close.
Bradley has been relieved of his duties, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Thursday. The decision to let Bradley go comes after a meeting at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., between Bradley, federation president Sunil Gulati, and U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn.
"We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years,” said Gulati in a press release. “During his time as the head coach of our Men’s National Team he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change. It is always hard to make these decisions, especially when it involves someone we respect as much as Bob. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
U.S. Soccer said it will have a further announcement on Friday.
Names already being linked to the vacant position are Juergen Klinsmann and World Cup-winning former Italian national team manager Marcelo Lippi.
Since last year's World Cup, the U.S. team has struggled under Bradley, posting a 5-4-4 record and falling in this year's Gold Cup final to Mexico. The decision to let Bradley go comes 13 days from the U.S. team's friendly against Mexico in Philadelphia.
Bradley's tenure as head coach ends with him posting a 43-25-13 record, winning a Gold Cup title, finishing in second place at the Confederations Cup and in the final 16 at the World Cup.
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