- Michael Bradley says he ‘loves’ coaching
- Accepted RBNY II job earlier this year
- Former U.S. captain honored in pregame ceremony
Former USMNT captain Michael Bradley says that he has taken to coaching, three months after starting as manager of the New York Red Bulls‘ reserve side. Bradley spoke to reporters before the USMNT’s friendly with South Korea on Saturday, where the midfielder was honored for his contributions to the U.S.
Bradley outlined his affinity for coaching.
“I don’t feel like my career stopped. The routine is the same. I’m still at a training ground every day. I’m still on the field every day. I still watch games, watch training back like it’s all the same,” he said on Saturday. “Obviously, what I do is a little bit different, but in terms of the routine, in terms of the feelings that I get, the passion that I have. That part is about the game, and I’m a part of it every day. So that part is, it’s one of the reasons why I stopped playing, and I knew that I wanted to coach.
“I didn’t waste one second, because had I waited then maybe there would have been a little bit of emotion. But the fact is that I literally just turned the page and then began to begin the coaching. People ask me a lot like, ‘Do you miss playing?’ And the honest answer is, no. I loved playing more than anything in the whole world. But now I love coaching more than anything in the whole world. And when I miss playing, I just set up a training session that needs a neutral player to make myself a neutral player.”
In a pregame appearance on TNT, Bradley also commented on his U.S. career.
“Growing up, I would have done anything to represent the national team once,” he said. “And to be able to do it the number of times I did, the experiences along the way, the big games, the special moments… it’ll stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Bradley is among one of the more successful U.S. players of all time. He made 151 appearances from 2006-2019, and captained the side 48 times.
Bradley will be on the sideline for RBNY 2 on Sept. 13 when they take on Huntsville City. They are currently top of MLS Next Pro‘s group A after 24 matchdays.
