New York Red Bulls appoint USMNT legend Michael Bradley as head coach

Bradley is the son of American coaching legend Bob Bradley. The elder Bradley won several MLS titles, first as an assistant coach under Bruce Arena and later as the head coach of the then-nascent Chicago Fire. He took over the USMNT in 2006 and was the chief architect of a key period of growth for the national team. Under Bob Bradley's direction the USMNT qualified for two straight World Cups, won the 2007 Gold Cup, beat the Spanish national team in its prime and made it to the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Michael Bradley was a key part of his father's charmed USMNT era. He was a flexible, plug-and-play midfielder who could serve in multiple roles in the center of the park. While his national team career ended in ignominy—a small section of the USMNT fandom still blames him for the USMNT's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup—he remains one of the most recognizable and pivotal USMNT players of all time.

Bradley has his work cut out for him with the Red Bulls. After winning the Eastern Conference in 2024, the team failed to qualify for the 2025 MLS Playoffs, breaking a 15-year streak (the longest active playoff qualification streak in any North American sport.) That failure led the team to part ways with head coach Sandro Schwarz, who was just two seasons into what appeared to be a multi-year rebuild of the Red Bulls franchise.

Bradley will work closely with designated players Emil Forsberg and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting while leveraging his youth coaching skills to bring new faces into the Red Bull senior system. He'll also partner with Red Bull executive Jurgen Klopp to bring the New York Red Bulls franchise closer to other Red Bull teams around the world. 

“I am excited for the opportunity to be head coach of the club that I started my professional career with and also in the state that I call home,” said Bradley.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside everyone here and doing my part to help this club achieve the success our fans deserve."

The New York Red Bulls will kick off their 2026 season on Saturday, Feb. 21 away at Orlando City.