London - Bob Bradley is certainly not a man short on confidence. Speaking to American radio station SiriusXM back in May, Swansea City’s new manager asserted that he should be considered among the world’s best.
Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp, Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel; Bradley believes he is your equal.
‘When I have a chance to observe different managers, the ones that do good work, I mention Pochettino, Klopp, Tuchel,’ the American said. ‘We haven’t even talked about the Guardiolas and the Ancelottis.
‘But I’ll tell you what - maybe I’m stupid - but I think I’m a manager in and around that level.’
Well, the 58-year-old from New Jersey now has a very high-profile platform on which to prove it after he replaced Francesco Guidolin at Swansea.
He starts work this week after delaying his departure from Le Havre in France to take charge of last night’s 2-1 win over Sochaux which left his side fifth in Ligue 2.
Bradley’s coaching career has spanned 35 years and four countries though it is his five-year stint in charge of the United States national side between 2006 and 2011 for which he is best known.
England fans may remember him from the 2010 World Cup, when the US recovered from Steven Gerrard’s early goal to draw 1-1 following Robert Green’s howler.
The result led to the famous New York Post headline: ‘USA wins 1-1: Greatest tie against the British since Bunker Hill.’
His US team edged out England to top Group C, before losing in extra time to Ghana in the round of 16.
Under Bradley the US reached the final of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, beating Spain 2-0 before losing to Brazil.
Three times they reached the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, beating Mexico in 2007, but losing to them in 2009 and 2011, the latter leading to Bradley’s exit.
Bradley then had two chaotic years in charge of Egypt, and since he has had spells at Stabaek in Norway before Le Havre.
Bradley’s early career was forged in his homeland, with a string of college teams and MLS sides Chicago Fire, New Jersey Metrostars and Chivas USA.
His son, Michael, is the captain of the US team.
As his comments about being among the world’s best coaches show, Bradley is not lacking in self-belief. Given Swansea’s predicament, that may be no bad thing.
Daily Mail