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Report: Bob Bradley meets with Molde FK owners to discuss coaching gig

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Bob Bradley has led Stabæk to the brink of qualification into next year’s UEFA Europa competition, but a move to a bigger Tippeligaen club may be in the cards for the American boss.

According to Norwegian outlet VG, Bradley met with Molde FK owners, Kjell Inge Røkke and Bjørn Rune Gjelsten, to discuss a potential coaching job with their club starting next year.

Following a 1-0 home win against Molde Saturday, Bradley has put Stabæk in a good position to place second and possibly fight for first in the 2015 Tippeligaen season. Currently Stabæk sits on 50 points, eight behind Rosenborg in first, but the team has only five games remaining to close the gap.

The second-place finish would see Bradley and his side join next year’s UEFA Europa competition, but a report from Norway has the American boss thinking about different plans.

“We’ll see,” Bradley said of the move.You do not know what happens, because this is football. You hear rumors that someone is interested, but you do not know how serious it is.”

“I do not know,” he added when asked if Molde was an option next year. “My focus now is continuing here.”

Stabæk sporting director Inge André Olsen said he knows that Molde can potentially offer more money, but he hopes that if Bradley does decide to move, the former U.S. Men’s National Team coach decides to flagship a team overseas.

Molde players would like to have him in charge, though, as current midfielder Martin Linne thinks he can help Molde return to glory, saying that Bradley’s performance in the league the past two seasons demonstrates his good managerial skills.

What do you think of this development? Think Bradley will move to Molde? Where should the former USMNT head coach go?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Great accomplishment for Bob.

    I have to admit I’ve been completely taken by surprise. While I have high hopes for young managers like Gregg Berhalter, I did not think that anyone from Coach Bob’s generation could have been successful in Europe. I think he makes up for his lack of tactical acumen with his personal qualities. He’s a natural born leader and that translates into any language and culture. I’m not sure if he could be successful in a league of higher quality and higher pressure, but I hope to be proven wrong again.

    Reply
    • Let me get this straight, we here in the good old US of A hate Sunderland because Lazy Antigoal scored two (2) goals in two (2) seasons? No wonder Klinsmann has held to his job for so long. No wonder we can not even place top three at a Gold Cup played at home.

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  2. Well, he’s accomplished more as a manager than JK. JK was just a figure head with Germany. We know who was pulling the strings there. BB has improved the performances of every Team he had managed since he left the US. Can we say the same about JK? We need you BB. Help, please forgive us.

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    • Agreed. I never understood why he got so much flak. It is hard to argue the fact that the man coached the team that ended Spain’s 50+ unbeaten streak, led us to that amazing final against Brazil, and led us to top of our group in South Africa. You have to respect that record.

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    • Third place finish at a World Cup? Low is a genius? Why did he fail to do anything in three successive tournaments with much better players?

      Last cycle was the second best cycle in USNT soccer history. We had the best record of all time in any cycle (despite a much rougher schedule–CONCACAF has much improved and the friendlies were against much better teams), beat Mexico at the Azteca, played better quality soccer than we ever have (Gold Cup 2013 and through Brazil), made it out of arguably the hardest World Cup group of all time, and were a Wondo away from making the quarterfinals.

      We had a few great results under Coach Bob but the on-the-field product was woeful at times. And whenever we needed a Plan B we were completely stuck because of how one-dimensional we were.

      I don’t mean to knock on Bob but Klinsmann improved the team significantly. This cycle hasn’t started out well but he’s been given the license to experiment, as he should (we’re three years out for JC’s sake). Let’s wait a bit before going all Mexico and firing the manager every time the team has a patch of poor form.

      Reply
      • Toughest Group?

        Cost Rica played well but their group was not as tough as the US’.

        The US went through with Germany who went on to massacre Brazil and eventually win the Cup.

        Costa Rica went through with Uruguay who lost their first knockout game 2-0 to Colombia.

        Costa Rica got by Greece on penalties and then fell to the Netherlands on penalties. Nice run, but the Netherlands was the only good team they played.

        England and Italy combined for a total of 4 points which is how many Portugal alone had.

        Germany won the whole thing and Ghana, who the US beat, were the only team in the entire tournament to take a point off of Germany.

        England and Italy are great names but they were not very good in Brazil.

      • Soccer fan is right.

        How quickly everyone forgets the bunker ball style we played under Bradley. Maybe I should remind you guys about his players selections too. For instance he started in a WC Ricardo Clark, Jonathon Bornstein, and Robbie Findley at the same time in an knockout round.

        Maybe everyone also forgot that if it wasn’t for Landon’s heroic stoppage time goal against Algeria we don’t get out of the the group, perhaps the easiest group in the tournament too.

        One other issue with player selection. I’m still pissed that Kyle Beckerman never got a sniff with the first team. Today he’s a bit old but we really missed Beckerman in his prime for the DM role because Bradley keep starting a midfield combo of MB and Ricardo Clark or Maurice Edu or Benny Feilhabher. Bradley also never started Geoff Cameron or Brad Evans both usual players in positions we were short on depth.

        I’m not happy with JK either and I don’t think he understands how to build a team around players who can play against the physicality and hacks of Concacaf. He’s used to being able to play free flowing possession football that he played in Europe, but with Concacaf refs and players the hacking and no calls just don’t allow the same style.

      • Joe,

        “I’m not happy with JK either and I don’t think he understands how to build a team around players who can play against the physicality and hacks of Concacaf”

        That is because he is trying to do both.

        To advance beyond just dominating Concacaf, which is not good enough, the USMNT needs to learn how to handle a more “modern” style.

  3. Just think how invested he would have been in setting a developmental plan for players ages 6-18 if he had been given the same role (Full team manager /technical director) as the current coach. I know the man well and worked with him for years. His passion for the game and his interest in making the game better in this country is unmatched. All I can say is we certainly would have had something better in place for player development than we do now.

    Reply
    • Pretty rose colored glasses. You are acting as if Bob was afforded no influence during his time and that is an exaggeration or outright fabrication.

      Reply
      • He had no clout. I used to talk to him a lot and he had no power. He was always looking over his shoulder and under tremendous pressure from the no nothings he had to answer to. Plus, he knew the current coach was always after his job.

        No offense but find a topic you know something about.

      • JK’s idea of player development is drafting players from other countries that might be part American. I am okay with allowing naturalized players to a point, but I think the primary focus should be developing home grown talent. That will be better for us in the long term. I understand the politics and that JK probably is more concerned with short term gain that will make him look good, so bringing in ringers is the way to win games in his mind. What happened to the Bradenton, FL development camp for example. Does JK ever check out our future talent there or does he only look in German leagues for players that can qualify for American citizenship? Hey JK, since you are only looking overseas for American talent, there are other euro countries that have had american bases there: Italy, Spain, England…

      • Jeff,

        ” I understand the politics and that JK probably is more concerned with short term gain that will make him look good, so bringing in ringers is the way to win games in his mind.”

        The politics?

        JK came in late for 2014 and got that done basically with BB’s leftovers.

        Now he is faced with building a team for 2018. Should he be thinking about 2022?

        Because right now he has the keeper situation, probably, set for 2018 but nothing else.

        Why do you think he is experimenting so much?

        First things first.

  4. Id say stay and see how the Europa League goes next year and make a transfer winter 2017. That way he can help consolidate his own legacy at Stabaek.

    any chances of a job in Holland? Belgium? Turkey? Its a big league that has loads of foreign coaches.

    Reply
  5. His next move should be to some place like Holland. If that means staying at Stabaek another year so he can do well in the Europa League, that’s what he should do instead of moving to Molde. While Molde is a more storied club, this would be more of a lateral move. If he can find a spot in Holland or Portugal or an equivalent and do well in those places, then a top 5 league could follow.

    Reply
    • You say that as if BB has a choice. Does he?

      It may be that BB has taken Staebek as far as it will go.

      Molde has more resources and it remains, as far as I know, the only Norwegian club in recent memory,to send a manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the BPL( Cardiff City).

      Ole had the advantage of being a beloved player for Man U. and Spurs but a job is a job.

      Reply
  6. He pretty clearly has not met with them unless he’s being misleading and Bob Bradley does not mislead: “You hear rumors that someone is interested, but you do not know how serious it is.” If he met with them, that wouldn’t be a rumor.

    Reply
    • Remember the author here is creating a story based solely on someone else’s report. The timeline of the interview and Bob’s quotes may be out of order or you are reading the quote to literally.

      Reply
  7. Hold on, Bob! Another two weeks and you’ll be vindicated. The Klinsmann Zeppelin is about to crash and burn. Oh, the humanity.

    Reply
    • If the US loses that will mean both Bob and JK will have been knocked out of going to the Confederations Cup by Mexico.

      How is that vindication of anything?

      Reply
  8. Very strange to talk contract while you’re still under contract and in the home stretch of the season, but like Bradely said, “That’s football.”

    Bradley’s work at Stabæk is nothing short of phenomenal. The club was basically on life support, having just been promoted after serious financial difficulties led to relegation. Getting them near the top of the table in such a short time is remarkable.

    Portland fans take note: Molde is called the “Town of Roses,” and the supporters group is called the Thorn Bush.

    Molde, though, is a much bigger club. Under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, they won the league in 2011, 2012, and 2014, and the cup in 2013 and 2014. They are operating now with an interim manager.

    Reply
  9. I would like to see Bob Bradley coach Mexico because it would provide endless arguments and commentary on this site with regards to Jurgen to pass the time before the real qualification begins. I think BB could do a really good job but I’m not worried that Mexico would surpass us because no matter how good BB performed the Mexican federation would probably fire him for their own inscrutable reasons. Then he can go to Molde.

    Reply
  10. Bradley has done such a phenominal job in Norway with Stabaek and it really makes me happy to see him succeed there. I was upset with his results at the national team and definitely called for his head at times, but that doesn’t take away from him being a bad coach. I’m glad he’s thrived over there and I hope he continues coaching abroad. Molde is a bigger club with bigger aspirations at club level and has a bigger budget, so it makes sense he’s talking to them. Despite their place in the league, Molde is the more storied and successful club. Nothing wrong with this move, and I hope he doesn’t take an MLS job

    Reply
    • This may be a stepping stone for something bigger but right now let’s not kid ourselves – he’s coaching in a league that is below MLS at the moment.

      Reply
      • Sorry, I don’t understand your point. What are we kidding ourselves about? That Molde is a bigger club than Stabaek? That Bradley isn’t a bad coach? That RB prefers that Bradley continues to coach overseas?

      • Norway might be lateral at best to MLS but the Europa League or possibly Champions League is uncharted territory for American coaches and should be the goal here.

        I would love to see Bob at Molde – great club, better than Stabaek and currently employing a few important Americans – but now is not the time. Take another year at Stabaek and see what a Europa/Champions League experience can yield.

      • Agreed. The negative is it wont start for 1 more year.

        The club is set to finish in the top3. If it finishes 2nd it will be 1 of their best successes in club history.

        Bob should look for a job in Holland or Belgium. Or try 2 Bundesliga or Championship

      • Norway is a step down from MLS. Obviously Bob feels it’s the path to a job in a big European league so that’s why he’s doing it.

        No Norwegian team has made the Champions League group stage since 2008 so any UCL campaign is likely to be short-lived.

      • MLS has better DP’s and foreign players but I think the average Norwegian there is still better than the average American player.

        And it’s not just about the quality of the league. Adapting to a completely different soccer culture is a huge task for a manager. How many managers outside of Europe and South America have we seen make it to a top European division? It’s a huge accomplishment.

      • slowleftarm,

        You can debate over whether MLS or Norway has better players overall.

        However, Norway has three relegation spots, one Champion’s league slot and two Europa League all up for grabs.

        MLS teams don’t face that kind of competitive pressure. Pablo just got rehired at Colorado after a season that would have seen him fired in just about any European league.

        And if Sigi and Porter’s teams were in a given European league they would have been canned by now.

        The word competition has a little more steel behind it there.

      • Nope, MLS is not a step above. Any top flight league in Europe gets more looks than the MLS does anyways, so staying there and coaching will lead to bigger and better opportunities (should he continue to succeed) than if he came back to the MLS

        It’s ok to be an American fan and want players and coaches to go overseas.

  11. Why on earth would he go to Molde if Stabaek qualifies for Europa? It’s clear he doesn’t care about the money or he would have gone to Vancouver. Europa is his best way to get a job in a better European league.

    Reply
    • I think this is a great question. I can only think that Bradley is playing the long game with a bigger (money) club. Thinking he can go deeper in the competition with a stronger club in a few years rather than a well performing less money club now. I dunno.

      Maybe he just loves developing clubs and moving on. The only thing I do know is that Bob is second only to Bruce Arena and as such, has earned the right to do whatever he wants. It should be interesting.

      Reply
      • Never turn down an interview, especially for a job you don’t want. You can always use it as leverage for either your current job or the new job you do want.

        I hope that Bradley doesn’t consider Molde as a serious option. I think the fact that he has turned Stabaeck into a top team, and the chance for a larger stage in Europa, should get him something more than a lateral/slightly forward move.

      • A top team in Norway. Bob knows whose inquiring about him and who isn’t. Perhaps Molds is the top offer out there at this point.

      • SilverRey,

        Bob has an advantage over everyone on SBI.

        He actually knows who has contacted him and what his options are.

        And given the timing Bob’s neutral replies are probably appropriate.

        You might remember that it wasn’t very long ago that Preki was a lock for the Leicester job and then Bob was and then Martin O’Neill was.

      • beachbum,

        I think he was referring to South Korea beating Portugal 1-0 while the US was losing 3-1 to Poland.

        Had Portugal tied South Korea both of them would have advanced over the US as both teams had superior goal differential to the US.

        Instead, Park Ji-Sung “did a Zusi” and South Korea “did a Panama”.

        Luck always helps.

    • Molde has way more money and recent success. It’s great if he gets Stabaek to Europa, but with their shoe-string budget, making any waves and creating a deep enough roster is going to be very tough. Might be better to jump to a large budget and push for Champions league again. Read somewhere else Molde has won the league 3 of the last 4 seasons, which is a Champions league spot.

      Reply
    • Good luck to the second best coach in US history, after Bruce of course. When Klinsi places second at a major tournament maybe he’ll be considered. Sure he has a lot of meaningless positive firsts, but he also has a few of very negative firsts, such as not placing top 3 in home soil Gold Cup and if we are not careful he’ll be the first to no qualify for World Cup. I say, sack him after lopsided loss to Mexico in CONCACAF Cup.

      Reply
      • EC,

        Bob Bradley is an excellent manager.

        However your nostalgic view of BB was not shared by US fans when he was the manager.

        Here is a sample of the SBI commentary on BB and the USMNT after the last time they played Mexico for a place in the Confederations Cup.

        “USA VS. MEXICO: MATCH NIGHT COMMENTARY
        Posted on June 25, 2011 by Soccer By Ives
        The Final we all expected, and have all been waiting for, is here. The United States and Mexico, arch-rivals and regional powers, face off tonight in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final at the Rose Bowl (9pm, Fox Soccer Channel).

        MADMEXICAN says:
        June 25, 2011 at 10:18 PM
        who brought those players….no, not bob Bradley our GREAT COACH! Look what a minor league coach with clear favorites does to a team in this case our team. Please give me one good reason we should keep him?

        roysterer says:
        June 25, 2011 at 10:52 PM
        You know why the US team looks so disconnected? It’s because they haven’t had a consistent lineup. This isn’t Barcelona. The US ought to have a best line up, and they don’t. It’s like Bradly doesn’t know when to stop experimenting.

        MADMEXICAN says:
        June 25, 2011 at 10:57 PM
        Watch how the “bob bradley ” media love fest starts with oh Klejstan was awesome…bradley did great with what he had etc etc. this is pathetic….we have better players, yet we fail to give them a chance since BBB has many man crushes. I hate MExico even though Im from Mexican Decent. I hate the fact that we are losing, and I abhor the fact that being below average is acceptable. It is especially sad that a high school football coach is held to higher standards as compared to our national team coach. what an embarrassment!

        AcidBurn says:
        June 25, 2011 at 11:06 PM
        Does Brazil lose a 2-0 lead? No.
        Does Mexico lose a 2-0 lead? No.
        Atrocious. Bob should be run out of town. Even with Cherundolo’s injury, he SHOULD HAVE HAD the players to see through a win when he had a 2-0 lead. TWICE NOW in finals this has happened. USMNT is a second tier team. Atrocious. Well the vacation schedules for the USMNT are now free for summer 2013. Or maybe we can lose in the 2013 Gold Cup to the Mexico B team.
        By the way, no one is placing blame on Howard? Didn’t come up with one big save tonight.
        Look for Mexico to be seeded in 2014. And we’ll get stuck with the group of death. Sad times for USMNT.

        Matt says:
        June 25, 2011 at 11:07 PM
        ok wow, all the people saying bornstien was responsible for 3 goals? wrong.
        The Score line should Read USA 2 Bornstein 2 Bradley JR 2
        Bradley Jr caused the last two goals by not marking the players coming into the middle. the player he failed to mark on the 3rd goal had the assist, he didnt mark Dos Santos’s run into the box on the 4th goal. Lets not forget Bradley getting stripped and almost causing a Dos Santos goal in the first half, take off the rose colored glasses his one goal thanks to ADU’s service doesnt make up for his pathetic display overall

        jpc says:
        June 25, 2011 at 11:10 PM
        Mexico was better today. They deserved it… This really shined a bright spot on our back line. We have no center backs aside from Bocanegra, and our fullbacks outside of Cherundolo are severely lacking. It might be time to start getting some new blood in there, Bornstein just isn’t the guy, he was involved in nearly every one of their goals. I thought Lichaz was pretty good, but he needs to be better too… I liked everything except Donovan playing up top. I know Bradley was just trying to get his best players on the field, but Donovan is a wing… Adu played well, but should have come off a lot earlier, the kid hasn’t played 90 minutes at this level in a long time… Too bad for Cherundolo, I think its a much different game w/ him in, but that’s no excuse, Mexico deserved the win

        Ben says:
        June 25, 2011 at 11:19 PM
        Also, Howard needs to come in for some serious criticism. Two big games in a row, Ghana and this one, where he doesn’t make a big save, and kinda blows a couple that maybe should have been saved. I know this is almost sacriligeous to say, but perhap Sir Alex was more perceptive in his dismissal of Howard. Timmay is a good but not great goalie, and when the pressure is on, he tends toward the ordinary. Please don’t cite friendlies to the opposite.”

      • You make my point, that was the final, against Mexico, the best Soccer Nation in CONCACAF, whether we like it or not. No shame in losing to Mexico. Hey, we’ve won some times. But, losing to Jamaica and Panama at home and not place top three at A Gold Cup is humiliating. Not even beating El Tri on October 10 will erase that.

      • Still have your hand in your pants?.

        This Mexico team is basically the same one that barely qualified for the 2014 WC. They tied Jamiaca at Azteca 0-0, a game Jamaica should have won, lost to Costa Rica, beat Panama 2-1 and needed the US to bail them out .

        I saw all those games and that team should be permanently humiliated but they aren’t because guess what those other CONCACAF teams are much better than you give them credit for.

        I have no doubt that whatever the US does you will continue to lobby for JK’s firing but that isn’t about the USMNT, that’s about you.

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