Bob Bradley is excited to get chance to coach son Michael again, in Toronto

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Nov 25, 2021

For the third time in his career, Bob Bradley will get to coach his son.

Michael Bradley was 16 when he started his pro career in 2004 with the MetroStars, his father's second stop as a head coach in MLS.

During Bob Bradley's five-year tenure as U.S. national team coach, Michael Bradley was capped 57 times.

And now they have been reunited in Toronto. On Wednesday, Bob Bradley was named the head coach and sporting director at Toronto FC, where Michael has played the last eight seasons.

That connection means Bob Bradley won't be walking into his new job sight unseen.

“As you can imagine," he said at a press conference on Wednesday, "the last eight years I paid close attention to everything that goes on in Toronto."

And he starts his fifth MLS head coaching job with an appreciation for the team, its fans and the city of Toronto:

"I really appreciate Toronto, the city, the connection that the club has with the city and all that fits with ideas that I have developed over the years on the coaching end. A team that has identity, a team that has a playing style, a team that has players that you go watch them and, man, you're going to go back and watch them again, you're excited, you see something that's special, you see a commitment on the field, a mentality."

Bradley said he has shared many great moments with Michael, who won MLS Cup 2017 with Toronto FC and reached the final in 2016 and 2019.

“Those moments came when I coached him," he said, "but it also came when we’ve been far apart. I was here for the final in 2017 with my wife. We had great pride.”

Bradley says he's ready to challenge Michael, who is 34 and will be playing his 19th pro season in 2022.

“Michael is in the back-end of his career,” Bob added. “I’m interested for when training starts, to see if I’m able to open up his mind how to get better, just as I will with every player. I look forward to that. I know how committed Michael is to the club and this city. I’m excited, getting to coach him again and challenging him. That part for the both of us will be great.”