LAFC failed to make the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs this season and the club will now look to start anew in 2022.
The Western Conference club announced Thursday that Bob Bradley will step down as head coach at the conclusion of his contract in December. Bradley served as head coach of LAFC since 2018, leading the club to a Supporters’ Shield trophy in 2019 and a spot in the Concacaf Champions League Final in 2020.
““Bob has been fantastic as the first and only head coach for this Club, LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said. “He provided strong leadership and has been a great ambassador for LAFC. Bob helped us develop a winning culture and established a legacy that will always be a part of LAFC’s history.”
Bradley registered an 58-34-32 record and 206 points earned in his four years with LAFC. The Black and Gold set the MLS record for most points in an expansion season in 2018 and also reached the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals that season.
The former U.S. men’s national team head coach also led the club to a then-MLS record of 72 regular season points in 2019. LAFC has continued to be one of the more-exciting clubs in MLS, despite their failure to reach the postseason this year.
“It’s been incredible to have played a part in the early history of LAFC,” Bradley said. “From the beginning there was a real commitment to connect to the city and the fans and we shared some amazing experiences.”
The 63-year-old is a three-time winner of the MLS Coach of the Year award and won the 2019 award for leading LAFC in its record-breaking campaign. Bradley’s future is unknown going forward, with several MLS clubs currently searching for new head coaches after also failing to reach the playoffs.
While it is true that it players who win in games, coaches can have an influence in how they play by attempting to put the players in spots where they can be successful and where their weaknesses are less exposed. There is a reason that the teams with the most expensive rosters like PSG, Man City, Chelsea, Bayern, Real Madrid, etc. are always at the top of the list as the most successful clubs. Most of those teams have had success despite what has often been a carousel of coaches. No coach can take a team with little talent and turn it into a champion, but coaches can have influence by setting the tone for a team and by putting players in positions to succeed. Bradley is better than most at that, but thinking he could overcome the loss of talent caused by the long spell of injuries to Vela, Seguara, Atuetesta and the transfers of Rodrigues, Zimmerman, Kaye and Rossi without quality replacements is almost laughable.
I am sure he will find a team that will be lucky to have him, assuming he is still interested in the nomad life of a professional coach.
Bradley is not a bad coach, but he does have limitations. When he’s got quality/talent he has been successful in getting the most out of them & roll players. But he is not good at development of players….and if his stars are out of form/injured he struggles to adapt.
That said any MLS team looking for a coach could do a lot worse than giving Bradley a shot.
His National Team tenure (aside from the nepotism claim) was actually fairly good (1st cycle). He lead us to our First appearance in a non-CONCACAF tournament final (even though it was an ugly way to get there), and had us at the Top of the Hex. Unfortunately the injury bug bit us hard (CD9, Gooch, Edu) in 2009 which hurt out showing in 2010 WC. He then made the same mistake that his mentor (Arena) made in holding onto players for too long.
Bobby Boy started on 3rd base with this initial LAFC team when he came back to the league. The league itself gave Goats 2.0 the red carpet treatment and they were destroyed by Zlatan and then fell short in every big game they played.
new low for Bobby
Dear Bob,
Please take a moment to visit http://www.sjearthquakes.com , look under the “careers” tab and leave your resume with them.
Thank you,
A Quakes fan.
When bob had good players, his team won in spite of him. As the player quality changed… bob was not enough!
Gregg Berhalter is exactly the same way.
Exchanges like these is what makes coming to the comments section worthwhile…
*are
Please come to FCC. We need you.