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U.S. men's soccer coach Bradley fired
[Updated at 5:21 p.m. ET] U.S. Soccer said Thursday it has fired men's national team coach Bob Bradley, who was less than a year into a four-year contract extension he signed last August after leading the Americans to the World Cup's second round.
A U.S. Soccer spokesman, Neil Buethe, said the organization is "not getting into specifics at this point" as to why Bradley was let go. The move comes a month after the team lost the final of CONCACAF's regional championship - the Gold Cup - to Mexico in Pasadena, California.
"We want to thank Bob Bradley for his service and dedication to U.S. Soccer during the past five years," U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement released Thursday. "During his time as the head coach of our men's national team he led the team to a number of accomplishments, but we felt now was the right time for us to make a change.
"It is always hard to make these decisions, especially when it involves someone we respect as much as Bob. We wish him the best in his future endeavors."
Gulati's announcement came after he met with Bradley and U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn in Carson, California, according to the statement. U.S. Soccer said it would make another announcement Friday - 12 days before the squad's next friendly match, against Mexico, on August 10 in Philadelphia.
Buethe declined to say whether a replacement for Bradley has been lined up. He also declined to reveal the subject of Friday's announcement.
Bradley compiled a 43-25-12 record as the team's head coach after taking the position in January 2007.
After Bradley guided the team to a 2007 Gold Cup title, the squad defeated top-ranked Spain in the semifinals of the 2009 Confederations Cup, sending the team to its first-ever final in a major FIFA tournament. The United States took a 2-0 lead in that title match against Brazil in South Africa, but wound up losing 3-2.
The United States qualified for the 2010 World Cup, finishing first in its CONCACAF qualifying group. At the World Cup in South Africa, the team went undefeated in the group stages for the first time in its history, tying twice and winning once. Ghana then eliminated the Americans in the second round, 2-1.
Bradley signed a four-year contract extension after the World Cup.
In his final tournament in charge, Bradley led the Americans to their third straight Gold Cup final, which they lost 4-2 to Mexico on June 25.
The team was winless in four home friendlies before this year's Gold Cup, tying Chile in January and Argentina in March before losing to Paraguay (1-0) in March and Spain (4-0) in June.
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who cares its soccer we are talking about..
John in Cali, Can the US afford to pay him an unemployment check?
unfortunately that is the one thing we can afford.
We better be seeing Jurgen Klinsmann filling in the role.
Soccer, Futbol, will NEVER progress with an american coach at the helm. The only thing they do is try to coach US Football style.... bigger is not always better, neither is the fastest if you don't have SKILLS.!!! In addition, trying to emulate English style soccer won't get the job done either! Get a clue US Soccer.
In my opinion, he made a big mistake not fielding the strongest possible team in the friendly against Spain. Putting on a good show against the World Cup champions - a nationally televised game watched by millions of people who don't typically watch soccer - was more important than the Concacaf Cup match. Spain made us look amateurish.
I agree with you... Big mistake!! He does not deserve to be fired. He does not h
The US technical and coaching are not at the international level yet. Thus, Brad firing is a right thing to do. It is supposed to do couple year agos. Bringing Backham and Thiery to US clubs are the mistakes and wasting money because they are too old and nearly retired from Euro teams. In my opinion, the US should take the lesson from England National team as much as we can (they have the good club teams BUT the national team is not in synch and yet advanced in the world cu or Euro champions. What do we learn from here? The coach is very important to a soccer team because he is not just mangement but technical lead.
the U.S. men must learn from the rest of the futbol world that you must fall to the ground if some gets too close and roll around holding your ankle in agony crying like a three year old....I"m sorry, that's an insult to three year olds, but you must flail, check yourself for blood, and refuse anyone who tries to help you up because being a sissy is what football/soccer is all about. Get rid of the blatant faking and I'd be a fan. If there's some solid contact and you want to embellish it to draw a foul I can live with that, but the faking that you've maybe lost an eye or broken your skull when the replay only shows no head contact, maybe some contact around the shoulder, is a complete joke.
I abhore diving. It was introduced by Latin Americans and infected much of the world. than being said, futbol is the most beautiful ball sport in the world – creativity galore.
It is not for everyone. You can't play Mozart for the deaf.
I suggest American football enthusiasts do 2 things: #1get a clue as to how to name a sport (nomenclature is not a strong suit of American football fans) and #2 PLAY WITHOUT THE PADS. Let's see how "tough" you really are. You would die without the military-like protection worn. No so tough. Rugby – now there is a painful ball sport. Not American football.
It is time for a big famous coach to move us forward. We need someone with experience in the big stage.
WOMP WOMP WOOOOOMMMMP
Soccer is the world's widest played game soley because it takes only a ball to play it. And at that, the ball can be a wad of rags or anything else. All the nations of the world can field a team. These guys run like hell and there is skill involved, true, but until the US reaches the third world status it is working toward, I don't see the game catching on here.
Mexico came back from 2-0 vs USA in the 2011 gold cup final. Beating USA 4-2. Gio dos Santos made Tim Howard look like a cat trying to catch a ball lol. USA team needs younger players.
They let go of a successful coach in a country that could give a damn about the game? Great job
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