BOB BRADLEY TO REMAIN AS US NATIONAL TEAM BOSS

US Soccer announced on Monday the Bob Bradley would remain in charge of the US Men’s National team for another World Cup cycle.

Bradley, who was under contract with the federation until December, had been angling for the vacant manager position at English club Aston Villa.

The 52-year-old Bradley had regularly said he would love to extend his contract, but was happy to shop around while US Soccer dithered.

When the Birmingham based Premier League side released a statement admitting they were looking for a manager with Premier League experience, Bradley was effectively ruled out for the position.

US Soccer, in what seems to be a post-World Cup ritual was interviewing Jurgen Klinsmann as a possible successor to Bradley for the National Team post..

Klinsmann, who had been in negotiations to take the US job after the 2006 World Cup, met with senior member of the federation this week, again was looking for absolute control of the management of the program. Something Sunil Gulati would never allow.

In many ways, Bob Bradley has had the most successful 4-year stint in US Soccer history, posting a 38-21-8 record with the Nat’s.

Under the stewardship of Bradley, the US won the 2007 Gold Cup, finished 2^nd at the 2009 Confederations Cup, the highest ever finish for a US team in a FIFA tournament

Beyond these achievements, The United States, in the past four years, won it’s 2010 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Hexagonal, and for the first time in it’s history, won it’s group at their 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Bradley knows his players, the system, and what it takes to get the job done, and in the end, that’s all US Soccer needed to hear.

Bradley’s agent told media, “Bob is honored to be the U.S. coach. It’s a job he enjoys very much, and he’s very happy.”

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