U.S. men’s national team great Michael Bradley joked that he didn’t need all the attention on him Saturday.
The team honored the American soccer great prior to kickoff of its friendly against South Korea at Sports Illustrated Stadium, a short drive away from Bradley’s hometown of Princeton, N.J.
Still, it was a special moment for Bradley to be able to share with his family.
“New Jersey has always been home. You know, football has taken me a lot of places throughout the world, but whenever people ask where’s home, it’s still, it’s still New Jersey,” Bradley said Saturday. “It’s special to be here in this stadium and to have the opportunity now to have a day like this. Honestly, it’s even more so for my family, for the people that supported me along the way, for the people that I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.
“Honestly, for any of you who know me, I’m excited, but I don’t need [the celebration], but for the people who love me and for the people who have supported me every step of my career, then it’s nice to share with them.”
Bradley retired from professional play in 2023 and quietly entered the coaching ranks, which eventually led to him being hired as the Red Bulls II coach earlier this year. His name remains one of the most prominent in USMNT history.
Bradley is the third most-capped player in the team’s history with 151 appearances — including starting every match for the U.S. during the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He ranks second all time for the national team in assists with 23.
He also served as captain in 48 of the 141 matches that he started with the USMNT, which rubbed off on a number of players still in the program. That list includes center back Tim Ream, who served as captain Saturday night against South Korea and previously played with Bradley on the national team.
“Just watching him, and knowing how professional he was, and the leadership that he showed from all the time that we were together, is something that I always left camp in awe of, really,” Ream said earlier this week. “I tried to use that when I would leave, and still trying to use those examples.”
Bradley had been around the national team a bit this week while they were training in New Jersey at the Red Bulls’ facility and said that it was good to see so much soccer happening at the facility, with the two Red Bull squads and the USMNT training all in one place.
However, he didn’t feel the need to impart any wisdom while crossing paths.
“Generally speaking, these guys don’t need me telling them what to do,” Bradley said, before expressing confidence in the direction of the program.
“They’re going in a good way,” he continued. “They’ll continue to find the right ways to push themselves, push each other as they get closer to the World Cup. And for me, it’s in little ways when I can help and support and engage them a little bit. Of course, I do.”