Former Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley hired as coach of New York Red Bulls II

By: The Associated Press Posted: 1:40 PM CDT Thursday, Jun. 12, 2025 Last Modified: 2:32 PM CDT Thursday, Jun. 12, 2025

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Former Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley has been named coach of the New York Red Bulls reserve side.

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Former Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley has been named coach of the New York Red Bulls reserve side.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/06/2025 (479 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley has been named coach of the New York Red Bulls reserve side.

The 37-year former U.S. skipper succeeds Ibrahim Sekagya, who was promoted earlier in the week to the Red Bulls first team as an assistant coach under Sandro Schwarz.

Bradley retired at the end of the 2023 season, his 10th with Toronto. He had a stint as a volunteer coach under his father, Bob Bradley at Norway’s Stabaek and served as a guest coach with Canada under Jesse Marsch at a recent camp in Halifax.

Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley applauds to the crowd after an MLS soccer match against Orlando City in Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Bradley is slated to take over New York Red Bulls II ahead of the June 21 match against Carolina Core FC. Toronto FC II hosts the Red Bulls II on July 11 with a rematch set for Oct. 5 at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey.

“We are excited to welcome Michael (Bradley) to the club,” said Red Bulls sporting director Julian de Guzman, a former Canada captain and TFC player. “He had an incredible playing career and is one of the greatest American soccer players ever.

“We see him as a promising coaching talent and look forward to supporting his development as he transitions to a career behind the touchline.”

Bradley played 308 games in Toronto colours, signed along with England star forward Jermain Defoe ahead of the 2014 season. Bradley led TFC during its glory days, winning four Canadian Championships (2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020), the 2017 MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield.

A product of the U.S. U-17 team residency program in Bradenton, Fla., Bradley turned pro at 16 and was selected 36th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, then coached by his father. The MetroStars were sold in 2006 and rebranded as the New York Red Bulls.

After one season, Bradley left for Europe to play for Heerenveen in the Netherlands, Borussia Moenchengladbach in Germany, Aston Villa in England, and Chievo Verona and Roma in Italy before signing with Toronto.

“I couldn’t be more excited to come back to where my professional playing career began,” said Michael Bradley. “This is a dream opportunity as a young coach. I’m looking forward to working every day with this talented group of players, and I’ll give everything to help them take the next step in their careers. I’m thankful to the club for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started.”

Bradley won 151 caps for the U.S. from 2006 to 2019, captaining the team 44 times. He completed his UEFA B coaching licence during a TFC injury layoff in the 2023 season.

RBNY 2 (8-2-2) currently sits second in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference, eight places and 12 points ahead of TFC 2 (4-5-3).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025