Michael Bradley life and biography

Michael Bradley (born July 31, 1987) is an American soccer player who currently plays as a midfielder for Borussia Mönchengladbach of the German Fußball-Bundesliga and the United States national team, coached by his father Bob Bradley.

Bradley was born in Princeton, New Jersey, son to Bob Bradley, then coach of the Princeton University soccer team and current head coach of the United States men's national soccer team. Michael spent his teenage years in Palatine, Illinois, while his father coached the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, and he grew up playing for Sockers FC, who went to the 2002 National Championship and finished 3rd. He later attended the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida — the dedicated facility for the training of the Under-17 national team — for four semesters, from the fall of 2002 through the spring of 2004.

Career
Metrostars

Before leaving Bradenton, Bradley signed a Project-40 contract with MLS, turning professional at the age of sixteen, and entered the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, where he was selected thirty-sixth overall by the MetroStars, who at the time were coached by his father. Bradley did not see any playing time in his rookie season, missing out with a foot injury, but went on to gain a starting spot in 2005, playing thirty out of thirty-two matches for the Metros. Just weeks after his father was fired as the club's coach, he headed in his first professional goal in a dramatic victory over Chivas USA on the last day of the 2005 season, sending the team to the playoffs.

SC Heerenveen

In January 2006, Bradley became the youngest MLS player to ever be sold when he was transferred to SC Heerenveen for an amount which remains undisclosed. His first start for the Frisian club came on April 16, 2006, in a match against AZ Alkmaar. He found success early, earning four starts and helping the club to a coveted UEFA Cup spot in his first half-season. Upon the retirement of Paul Bosvelt after the 2006–07 season, Bradley took the veteran's starting place in central midfield. Bradley scored sixteen Eredivisie goals and twenty in all competitions during the 2007–08 season.

In January 2008, Bradley broke the record for the most goals scored in a single season by an American-born soccer player playing in a European first division, which was previously held by Brian McBride with his thirteen goals for Fulham in the English Premier League. On January 26, 2008, Bradley extended his record 18, with 16 league goals.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

On August 31, 2008, Bradley signed a four-year deal with Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach for an undisclosed fee. It was later revealed that Bradley had agreed a switch to English club Birmingham City on the condition that the club retained its Premier League status. However, they did not and he made his Gladbach debut on September 20 in a loss against Hertha Berlin. On November 15, 2008, Bradley scored his first goal for Monchengladbach against Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich with an eighty-first minute equalizing header. The game ended 2–2.

Early in the 2009-10 season, Bradley was briefly suspended after a small argument with manager Michael Frontzeck over playing time. However, the two later reconciled and Bradley has re-established himself as a starter with the club, assisting a goal against Bayern Munich with a one-touch volley pass, and scoring the winning goal on a low free kick against Hannover 96.

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