Bob Bradley . . . what they said
14th October
All eyes will be on the away dugout when Bob Bradley takes charge of his first Swansea City game at Arsenal this weekend.
Bradley's appointment as Swans boss has got a lot of people talking.
Here we have a look at what a number of footballing figures have had to say about the American's arrival in the Premier League.
"Bob is not a pushover, and I think that will surprise so many people who don't know him. He's the most forthright coach I've ever played for. You know where you stand. He tells you. He shoots straight between the eyes, good or bad. Players love that and appreciate it. If things aren't going great, he'll tell you, but if things are going really well he'll also tell you that. With Bob you never guess, you never have to guess where you stand. I think most of the players will tell you, man to man they appreciate that."
Ex-Manchester United and Everton keeper Tim Howard.
"Many of these players, including Greg Vanney, who is in Toronto these days, C.J. Brown, Peter Nowak, Diego Gutierrez, are part of a well-educated generation of players. I believe all these players were able to keep a close relationship with Bob Bradley. I believe Bradley is the father of many of these players we are talking about who are either coaching or working in soccer in one way or another."
Hristo Stoichkov, who played for Bradley at Chicago Fire.
"A clear leader, experienced and very knowledgeable of the game."
Ex-Norway and Middlesbrough striker Jan Aage Fjortoft.
"Everyone around Bob becomes a student of the game. He has a way of questioning and challenging you and getting the most out of you. In my second year with him, I realised I wanted to be a coach. The environment Bob created, he challenged players to kind of think as coaches, as well. He's a guy I looked up to, a father figure, and I didn't want to let him down."
Philadelphia head coach and former Chicago Fire defender Jim Curtin.
"All of the players, whether it is in Europe or in Egypt, they work with Bob and nobody thinks of him as American. They think he's a damn good football coach. This is all they see and all they care about. They see he is a good leader and he makes the players better so they respect him and appreciate him."
Bradley's former fitness coach Tomasz Kaczmarek.
"Always the first thing you are going to think about is that he is an American and people are going to talk about having an American coach in the Premier League. Overall, for me, the main focus is that Bob is a good coach. He has been a guy who has dedicated himself to coaching in different environments and going through adversity. He has prepared himself very well and I'm excited for him."
Former Sheffield Wednesday star John Harkes.
"Bradley will inject much needed ambition at the Liberty Stadium, the kind of ambition that led him to using Guardiola as a personal yardstick. While Bradley doesn't quite possess a trademark style, adapting his formation and tactical blueprint depending on the players at his disposal, he is renowned as a maximiser, making the most of what he has."
Graham Ruthven, ESPN.
"Wishing Bob Bradley all the best at Swansea City. One of the best coaches I played for and no doubts he will be a success - well deserved."
Ex-Bolton player Stuart Holden.
"Bob is extraordinarily intelligent about the game, his work ethic is second to none, and the way he manages teams and deals with people are all outstanding."
US Soccer president Sunil Gulati.
"I think this is super exciting, because he's the first American coach coaching in the Premier League, and this is huge. Huge compliment to him, and big congratulations to him and to Swansea City. We keep all our fingers crossed that things go well for him in his new adventure. I think he totally, totally deserves that opportunity."
Jurgen Klinsmann.
"I think you can expect a guy who will do everything he can to make sure his team are successful. He is not going to go there and go through the motions. Anybody who knows Bob, who has played under Bob, knows you are going to enjoy every training session, you are going to enjoy a lot of the moments there. We all look forward to watching him and we wish him all the best."
Ex-Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore.
"Got to know Bob Bradley in Egypt a few years ago. As others have said, he's earned his shot at a PL club. Done well wherever he's been. Bradley's not had a top-level Euro club job, but he's put the hard yards in. His horizons are a lot broader than most."
Rory Smith, NY Times.
"Despite what Swansea fans may have read, Bob Bradley is not brash. He is a solid, serious coach and I bet he knows team inside out already."
Ian Darke, BT Sport/ESPN commentator.
"Bob's been very ambitious and very vocal for years that he wanted to try to stay in Europe. He's had multiple opportunities to come back to MLS but he wanted to stay in Europe and try to prove himself on the biggest stage and that's admirable. No-one will be more prepared than Bob. He will try to get his finger on the pulse as soon as he can and get everyone behind him."
Former Leicester and Spurs keeper Kasey Keller.
"For me, it's a great situation for Bob to come there and I wish him the best. I hope that he is successful and that he maintains the team in the Premier League, at least as the first task, and then hopefully achieves other things. I hope that it goes very well for him and the club."
Former Swansea City striker Giovanni Savarese, now coach of the New York Cosmos.
"Bradley should actually be embraced. He stands against many of the disliked modern trends in the game and has been brave enough and bold enough to pursue a circuitous career."
Seb Stafford-Bloor, FourFourTwo.
"I think the guys in Wales will love him for his honesty. He will tell you what he thinks, how he thinks it stands, but he will also listen to what you think. He might not agree with you, but he will always tell you how he feels and where he stands."
Former USA captain and Fulham player Carlos Bocanegra.
"Bob's work ethic was greater than any I've ever seen in my life. His attention to detail, preparation, what he put into his work and his job every day was very contagious within the team. It was very apparent how thorough he was at every level. You knew you went into matches more prepared than the opponent. All of the people that are close to Bob, we all think that Bob has been slighted and overlooked many times because he's an American. I think now that he has the opportunity, he will have the chance to take the American tag away and he will be able to show everybody what an incredible manager he is."
Former USA international and current New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch.
