It seemed kismet that Michael Bradley would have success as a coach. His father was one of the best coaches in United States history. And as a player, the New Jersey native Bradley directed the midfield for clubs in Europe and as captain of the U.S. national team.
This Saturday, Bradley looks to solidify in a historical way the strong start he's had at the helm of New York Red Bulls II in MLS NEXT Pro Cup against Colorado Rapids 2 (7 p.m. ET | Apple TV - Free). Red Bulls II is in a MLS NEXT Pro Cup final for the first time, and it seems fitting that Bradley, one of the area's biggest stars as a player, is its coach.
As he reflected to reporters Wednesday on the five months he's spent as a head coach, Bradley couldn't point to just one big lesson he's learned.
"I learn a million things every single day," Bradley said of his young coaching career. "The main thing is, how much I love doing this, how much I love coaching. ... I feel like the impact that I can have on players in a team is so much greater now as a coach than it ever was as a player.
"And it's interesting, because when the game starts and the whistle blows, I literally have no impact on what's going on directly, right? But it's the work every day. It's how you how you put together a week. It's how you structure training, video, individual meetings, conversations. That is the control and the impact that you can have."
Bradley ball
In late June, Bradley walked into an excellent situation. Outgoing coach Ibrahim Sekagya stepped up to the first team, leaving Bradley a first-place team with goalscorers all over the lineup.
Bradley hasn't missed a beat. His setup has allowed Red Bulls II to arrive to the Cup final having scored 12 goals in three games. Red Bulls II has lost only three times since Bradley took over on June 19.
"When I walked into this building on the first day, I was just so excited about the part of now getting to as a young coach, be on the field every day with a really talented group of players," Bradley said. "And sure, we talked about how well they had started the season, about, how we were going to continue to challenge ourselves to play from the front of the pack."
READ MORE: From Captain to Coach
Entering MLS NEXT Pro Cup, Bradley naturally reflected on the start of his coaching career. Though he started with a talented group that was already winning matches, Bradley's leadership has only further allowed Red Bulls II players like Roald Mitchell, Andy Rojas, and Nuehen Benedetti to thrive.
"But ultimately, when the work starts you don't think about the end very often," Bradley said. "You think about just every single day, trying to chip away at things, and trying to take the idea that you have in your head of what the team is, what the team can be, and just keep going with it all in that direction. And so it’s been a really fun group to work with."
Poise under pressure
Red Bulls II's young squad can surely look to their coach for poise and experience. Aside from playing in two World Cups, Bradley has played in four cup finals at the highest levels of the game. Those include the 2017 MLS Cup with Toronto FC (which TFC won), the 2019 MLS Cup final (in which TFC lost), the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup final (in which the USMNT lost to Mexico) and the 2009 Confederations Cup final (in which the USMNT lost to Brazil).
This time on the sideline, Bradley applies everything he's learned over a whirlwind five months at the helm of Red Bulls II.
"The biggest message is that we all do this, whether it's the players playing or us coaching," Bradley said. You do this to have the big moments, to play in big games, to compete, when the lights come on brightest, and so the opportunity to play in a final in a great stadium with a lot of people there. That's why you play. That is the best thing that there is."
