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Princeton University Athletics
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Bob Bradley '80 Named English Premier League Manager with Swansea City
October 03, 2016 | Men's Soccer
Bob Bradley '80 has been named coach of Swansea City the English Premiere League club announced on Monday. He is the first American coach to manage a major European soccer club.
Bradley comes to Swansea City from Le Havre in France's second division and replaces Francesco Guidolin immediately.
"He is highly regarded as a coach and has a wealth of experience on the international and domestic front," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said. "He is well aware of the club's footballing philosophy and will provide us with strong leadership qualities and a renewed belief to compete at this level. "It is never easy changing managers, but we are looking at a long-term appointment and we are confident Bob can settle us down and stabilize matters on and off the pitch."
Swansea City currently sits in 17th place and has lost five of seven games, winning one and tying another. The Swans entered the year as a candidate for relegation. In July an American group took over the club. One of the shareholders includes Landon Donovan, who played under Bradley on the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT).
Bradley began his coaching career at his alma mater at the age of 26. While at Princeton from 1984-1995, he led the Tigers to two Ivy League titles as the squad reached the NCAA final four in 1993. In 1996 he became an assistant coach under Bruce Arena with the D.C. United in Major League Soccer. Two years later he was named the head coach of the Chicago Fire, winning the 1998 MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in its expansion season. Bradley then moved on to MLS teams New York Metrostars (now New York Red Bulls) and Chivas USA.
In 2006, he succeeded Arena as national team head coach. The U.S. won the 2007 Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Mexico and then led the team to the largest victory in U.S. history as the squad defeated Barbados 8-0 in a CONCACAF qualifier. The U.S. took second in the 2009 Confederations Cup after a 2-0 victory over No. 1 ranked Spain to end the Spainards 35-game unbeaten streak. After qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, Bradley lead the U.S. to win its group in the group stage, tying England and defeating both Slovenia and Algeria. It marked the first time the U.S. won its group since 1930. The U.S. later lost to Ghana 2-1 in extra time. Despite leading the lead to the final of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup in June, Bradley was relieved of his duties on July 28, 2011.
After coaching the U.S., Bradley managed the Egyptian national team from 2011-14. He brought Egypt within a game of the reaching the World Cup in spite of tremendous turmoil and political unrest in the nation. In January 2014 he was named the manager of Stabaek (Norway) and then signed with Le Havre in November 2015.
Bradley comes to Swansea City from Le Havre in France's second division and replaces Francesco Guidolin immediately.
"He is highly regarded as a coach and has a wealth of experience on the international and domestic front," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said. "He is well aware of the club's footballing philosophy and will provide us with strong leadership qualities and a renewed belief to compete at this level. "It is never easy changing managers, but we are looking at a long-term appointment and we are confident Bob can settle us down and stabilize matters on and off the pitch."
Swansea City currently sits in 17th place and has lost five of seven games, winning one and tying another. The Swans entered the year as a candidate for relegation. In July an American group took over the club. One of the shareholders includes Landon Donovan, who played under Bradley on the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT).
Bradley began his coaching career at his alma mater at the age of 26. While at Princeton from 1984-1995, he led the Tigers to two Ivy League titles as the squad reached the NCAA final four in 1993. In 1996 he became an assistant coach under Bruce Arena with the D.C. United in Major League Soccer. Two years later he was named the head coach of the Chicago Fire, winning the 1998 MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in its expansion season. Bradley then moved on to MLS teams New York Metrostars (now New York Red Bulls) and Chivas USA.
In 2006, he succeeded Arena as national team head coach. The U.S. won the 2007 Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Mexico and then led the team to the largest victory in U.S. history as the squad defeated Barbados 8-0 in a CONCACAF qualifier. The U.S. took second in the 2009 Confederations Cup after a 2-0 victory over No. 1 ranked Spain to end the Spainards 35-game unbeaten streak. After qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, Bradley lead the U.S. to win its group in the group stage, tying England and defeating both Slovenia and Algeria. It marked the first time the U.S. won its group since 1930. The U.S. later lost to Ghana 2-1 in extra time. Despite leading the lead to the final of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup in June, Bradley was relieved of his duties on July 28, 2011.
After coaching the U.S., Bradley managed the Egyptian national team from 2011-14. He brought Egypt within a game of the reaching the World Cup in spite of tremendous turmoil and political unrest in the nation. In January 2014 he was named the manager of Stabaek (Norway) and then signed with Le Havre in November 2015.
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