Red Bull New York head coach, former captain of the United States National Soccer Team and Princeton,NJ native Michael Bradley is a finalist for election to the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2027.
Bradley is the latest guest on WBGO's award-winning podcast SportsJam with Doug Doyle.
At the international level, the former captain had 151 caps for the U.S. men’s national team, which is third-most by a player in USMNT history. He is thrilled to be a HOF finalist in his first year of eligibility.
"I was surprised and honored for sure. We came in from training one day and I saw it on the phone. It wasn't something I had expected. When you're enjoying every part of coaching and the opportunity here at Red Bull New York, you're not thinking about honors or accolades. But, the honor to be included in that list as a finalist means a lot."
What's his greatest memory while playing on the international pitch?
"Standing on the field at a World Cup before the game and hearing the National Anthem will stay with me for the rest of my life. To stand there with your teammates and to have your hand over your heart and hear The Star-Spangled Banner, we were lucky always that whether we were in South Africa in 2010 or Brazil in 2014, we always had strong American support. You'd here our fans singing the anthem as well. That gives you goosebumps."
Michael is the son of Bob Bradley, the former U.S. national soccer team coach. Bob coached several MLS team, including the MetroStars. All that came after Bob Bradley coached soccer at Princeton University. That's time Michael fondly remembers.
"The first few years of my life we lived in an apartment right on campus. A few years later when my younger sister was born we moved Pennington, but I was always tagging along, on the sideline, on the bus, in the locker room. His office was inside Dillon Gym. I used to go into work with him and take my ball, go up into the gym and find a corner or take advantage of the whole court whenever it was open. That was my playground. I was really lucky. Those experiences in those days played in who I am."
Michael says the Bradleys' big sports connection comes from his grandfather who had three boys. Bob was the oldest. Michael's uncle Scott Bradley was a MLB catcher for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds. Scott was a successful head baseball coach for Princeton University for nearly three decades. Michael's uncle Jeff was a sportswriter.
Michael's family would eventually from Pennington, NJ to Palatine, Illinois in 1997.
Michael Bradley, who won a championship in the MLS as a player with Toronto FC, took over as head coach of Red Bull New York in December of 2025. This season, the Red Bulls are competing for an MLS playoff spot.
"We have a really young and exciting team. The work, in terms of establishing a foundation this year, how we play, how we compete, and the type of team we want to be, that part has been really positive. Now we are trying to accelerate the learning curve."
You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Michael Bradley below:
