Bob Bradley's future with United States soccer team still up in air
The U.S. soccer team will play two more exhibition games in October, but will Bob Bradley still be on the sideline? Before the team's 2-0 loss Tuesday to Brazil at New Meadowlands Stadium, Bradley was asked whether there was any part of him that wondered if this would be his final game as U.S. coach.
"No, I don't think in those terms," he said before the game. "You think about the game and the guys we have here and what we need to do well. You don't usually get caught up with anything else."
Bradley, whose four-year contract expires at year's end, said he has had a few discussions with U.S. Soccer about his future and both sides will meet again after the Brazil game.
Bradley also has been mentioned as a candidate at English Premier League club Aston Villa after coach Martin O'Neill's surprising resignation Monday.
BRAZIL BEATS U.S.: New-look squad triumphs 2-0
No American has coached a high-level European club, but since Aston Villa is owned by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner, would an American owner be more open-minded about hiring an American coach? "I think it's certainly a possibility," said U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who plays for Aston Villa.
"What Bob's done with our team, with last year's Confederations Cup and the World Cup and in MLS, his record is very good," Guzan said. "You see his past history, and it's been solid. It's a testament to what's going on here in the U.S. ... That's what happens when you're a good manager. When you're at that level, you put in good performances, it's going to go noticed by big clubs."
Eyes on the 2022 World Cup: At the new stadium, which probably would host one of the more prominent games if the USA is awarded the 2022 World Cup, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said, "You've got to feel something special is happening. It's not going to be tomorrow, but something's happening."
The USA is bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Gulati has said a European country probably will be awarded the 2018 event given that it would have been 12 years since the continent hosted.
In his opening comments at the National Soccer Hall of Fame induction ceremony Tuesday, Gulati said more than 100 million people in the USA watched a portion of the World Cup. Looking at the Hall of Famers in the crowd, including a front row full of gray-haired pioneers, Gulati said, "Where we're going is very related to where we've been."
Four new members were installed in the National Soccer Hall of Fame: coach Bruce Arena and former players Thomas Dooley, Preki Radosavljevic and Kyle Rote Jr.
Gulati called Arena "the most successful coach in the history of American soccer," given his achievements at every level. Arena is the winningest coach in U.S. men's team history, leading the Americans to two World Cups. He also won two MLS Cups and five NCAA titles at the University of Virginia.
The best moment of his career? Hearing the national anthem before the USA played Portugal in its 2002 World Cup opener in South Korea. "To step on the field after 9/11 ... was the absolute highlight of my career," he said. "The result wasn't bad either." The Americans won 3-2.
"No, I don't think in those terms," he said before the game. "You think about the game and the guys we have here and what we need to do well. You don't usually get caught up with anything else."
Bradley, whose four-year contract expires at year's end, said he has had a few discussions with U.S. Soccer about his future and both sides will meet again after the Brazil game.
Bradley also has been mentioned as a candidate at English Premier League club Aston Villa after coach Martin O'Neill's surprising resignation Monday.
BRAZIL BEATS U.S.: New-look squad triumphs 2-0
No American has coached a high-level European club, but since Aston Villa is owned by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner, would an American owner be more open-minded about hiring an American coach? "I think it's certainly a possibility," said U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who plays for Aston Villa.
"What Bob's done with our team, with last year's Confederations Cup and the World Cup and in MLS, his record is very good," Guzan said. "You see his past history, and it's been solid. It's a testament to what's going on here in the U.S. ... That's what happens when you're a good manager. When you're at that level, you put in good performances, it's going to go noticed by big clubs."
Eyes on the 2022 World Cup: At the new stadium, which probably would host one of the more prominent games if the USA is awarded the 2022 World Cup, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said, "You've got to feel something special is happening. It's not going to be tomorrow, but something's happening."
The USA is bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Gulati has said a European country probably will be awarded the 2018 event given that it would have been 12 years since the continent hosted.
In his opening comments at the National Soccer Hall of Fame induction ceremony Tuesday, Gulati said more than 100 million people in the USA watched a portion of the World Cup. Looking at the Hall of Famers in the crowd, including a front row full of gray-haired pioneers, Gulati said, "Where we're going is very related to where we've been."
Four new members were installed in the National Soccer Hall of Fame: coach Bruce Arena and former players Thomas Dooley, Preki Radosavljevic and Kyle Rote Jr.
Gulati called Arena "the most successful coach in the history of American soccer," given his achievements at every level. Arena is the winningest coach in U.S. men's team history, leading the Americans to two World Cups. He also won two MLS Cups and five NCAA titles at the University of Virginia.
The best moment of his career? Hearing the national anthem before the USA played Portugal in its 2002 World Cup opener in South Korea. "To step on the field after 9/11 ... was the absolute highlight of my career," he said. "The result wasn't bad either." The Americans won 3-2.
