Bob Bradley unveiled as 1st Los Angeles FC boss
Sporting street attire and wearing an unimpressed expression, Bob Bradley was unveiled as Los Angeles FC manager on Thursday, moments after reports surfaced indicating he was set to take over the expansion team.
It's time.#WelcomeBob pic.twitter.com/yPlBVhqaOb
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 27, 2017
The 59-year-old had been down the job center since December, when Premier League outfit Swansea City unceremoniously gave him the boot after just 11 matches in charge.
He boasts an exceptional knowledge of North American soccer through his MLS stints with the Chicago Fire, the New York Red Bulls (then named the MetroStars), and Chivas USA, and his subsequent handling of the United States men's national team between 2006 and 2011.
His stay with the Fire yielded the MLS Cup in 1998 and two U.S. Open Cups in 1998 and 2000, respectively. At the U.S. helm, he won the Gold Cup in 2007, finished runner-up in the 2009 edition of the Confederations Cup, and guided the squad to the 2010 World Cup's Round of 16.
43 - Bob Bradley is second all-time in wins for #USMNT. Hall.
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) February 15, 2015
Shortly after he left the international post, he moved abroad to supplement his resume. He oversaw Egypt when the country was picking up the pieces after the nationwide revolution of 2011, but ultimately failed to guide the team to the 2014 World Cup, falling to Ghana in a playoff.
He then took his skills to Norway with Stabaek, France with Le Havre, and in the Premier League with Swansea.
LAFC is set to begin its inaugural MLS season in 2018 and the challenge of taking over the expansion team will represent Bradley's first job in the league since 2006. He apparently beat the likes of Hugo Sanchez and Guillermo Barros Schelotto to the post.
Bradley's appointment is the second in the City of Angels in a matter of hours. Sigi Schmid returned to take the LA Galaxy helm after Curt Onalfo was ousted with a record of 10 losses and four draws in 20 matches this season.