A familiar face to soccer fans in Toronto is taking over in New York.
Former TFC captain and U.S. men's national team legend Michael Bradley was named head coach of the Red Bulls on Monday
Bradley is just the second permanent head coach in franchise history and returns to New York, where he started his professional career back in 2004.
The 38-year-old spent last season with RBNY II, leading the club to its first MLS NEXT Pro Cup title in 2025.
“Michael had an exceptional playing career and has demonstrated a bright future in coaching especially after leading our Red Bull New York II to the MLS NEXT Pro Cup this past season,” head of Sport Julian de Guzman wrote in a statement.
Prior to joining the Red Bulls, Bradley was an assistant for the Canadian men's national team at the Canadian Shield Tournament in June. He made his first coaching stop as an assistant on his father Bob Bradley's staff with Norway's Stabæk.
Bradley's playing career spanned 20 seasons, beginning with the MetroStars, before they rebranded as the Red Bulls, after being selected in the 2004 MLS Draft. He also spent time in top European leagues with Eredivisie side SC Heerenveen, Borussia Monchengladbach, Aston Villa, Cievo and A.S. Roma.
He then made his return to MLS in 2014 with TFC where he spent 10 seasons with the club, helping them it win four Canadian Cups, the 2017 MLS Cup and the 2017 Supporters Shield.
Bradley made 151 appearances international appearances with the U.S. team, which is the third-most by any player in history. He had 17 goals and 11 assists.
New York missed Major League Soccer's playoffs, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference with 12 wins, 15 losses and seven ties, and former coach Sandro Schwarz was fired on Oct. 27 after two seasons. The team was seventh in 2024 and advanced to the MLS final, where it lost to the LA Galaxy.
The Red Bulls began play in 1996 as the New York/New Jersey Metrostars. They have never won the MLS championship.
--with files from The Associated Press
