Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley (born July 31, 1987) is an American Association football who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Borussia Monchengladbach of the Germany Fußball-Bundesliga. He also plays as a defensive midfielder for the United States men's national soccer team.

Youth

Bradley was born in Princeton, New Jersey, New Jersey, son to Bob Bradley, then a noted American college soccer coach (and currently head coach of the United States national football team). Michael spent his teenage years in Palatine, Illinois, Illinois while his father coached the Chicago Fire (soccer) 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 Florida — the USA's dedicated facility for the training of its United States U-17 men's national soccer team — for four semesters, from the fall of 2002 through the spring of 2004.

Professional

Before leaving Bradenton, Bradley signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS, turning professional at the age of 16, and entered the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, where he was selected 36th 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 30 out of 32 matches for the Metros. He headed in his first professional goal in a dramatic victory over C.D. Chivas USA, clinching a playoff spot for his team in their last game of the 2005 season. Ironically, his father had been dismissed as MetroStars coach less than two weeks before, and would go on to coach Chivas USA during 2006.

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 midfield. Bradley has scored 16 Eredivisie goals and 20 in all competitions as of March 22, 2008.

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 13 goals for in the English Premier League. On January 26th of that year, Bradley extended his record to 15 goals with two against De Graafschap, and scored another on February 2nd and yet another on the 9th to make it 17, including 13 league goals. Throughout his scoring run, Michael has played an important creative role in Heerenveen's midfield, helping his team carve out the best goal differential in its division and compete for the Eredivisie league title.

On August 31st 2008 Bradley signed a 4-year deal with Fußball-Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on September 20 in a loss against Hertha Berlin.