Bradley wants to stay
U.S. soccer coach awaits final verdict
NEW YORK – Bob Bradley said he’d be “honored” to remain the U.S. soccer coach, and he expects a decision in three to four weeks.
Bradley told The Associated Press on Thursday he had “a very good first conversation” with federation president Sunil Gulati before leaving the World Cup. Bradley plans to meet with U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn next week.
“I would simply say that we need time,” Bradley said. “Time to talk. Time to think a little bit.”
Hired in December 2006, Bradley’s contract runs through the end of the year. He led the Americans to the top of their group for the first time in 80 years. But the U.S. lost 2-1 to Ghana in overtime in the first round of the knockout stage.
Gulati said Monday that “I think the team is capable of more.”
“We’re proud of the work and the results, and we stand behind that,” Bradley said of his coaching staff. “As this four-year cycle ends and a new one begins, we’re pleased that regardless of decisions going forward that the work in this four years will pay off in the next four years.”
Bradley said he was satisfied with the team’s World Cup preparations over those last four years – from scheduling matches against difficult opponents to the luminaries who addressed the squad before it played in South Africa.
One obvious goal for the next four years is to improve at scoring goals.
The U.S. team didn’t get any from its forwards in South Africa. In his first World Cup, 20-year-old striker Jozy Altidore created chances but couldn’t capitalize.