John Bradford (soccer) explained

John Bradford
Birth Date:26 March 1980
Birth Place:Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Currentclub:North Carolina FC (head coach)
Height:1.85m (06.07feet)
Position:Defender
Collegeyears1:1998–2001
College1:Furman Paladins
Years1:2020
Clubs1:North Carolina FC
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Nationalyears1:1999
Nationalteam1:United States U17
Manageryears1:2002–2005
Managerclubs1:Dallas Texans (assistant coach)
Manageryears2:2003–2005
Managerclubs2:Texas–Permian Basin (assistant)
Manageryears3:2006–2021
Managerclubs3:North Carolina FC (assistant)
Manageryears4:2021–
Managerclubs4:North Carolina FC

John Bradford (born March 26, 1980) is an American soccer coach and former player who serves as the head coach of USL Championship club North Carolina FC.

Playing career

Bradford played college soccer at Furman University between 1998 and 2001.[1]

In July 2020, aged 40 years old, Bradford signed his first professional contract for North Carolina FC due to an injury crisis.[2]

Coaching career

After college, Bradford was invited to be an assistant coach with Dallas Texans Soccer Club, where he stayed in the role for three years.

North Carolina FC

Bradford returned to North Carolina to work with the Capital Area Soccer League, now known as North Carolina FC Youth. Following fourteen years working as an assistant coach and academy director for the club, he was eventually handed the head coach role in January 2021, taking charge of the USL League One side.[2] [3] On June 9, 2022, Bradford was named USL League One Coach of the Month for May 2022.[4] On June 15, 2022, North Carolina announced Bradford had signed a multi-year contract extension.[5] In the 2023 USL League One season Bradford led his team to victory in the 2023 USL League One Final, securing the first championship in the club's history [6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Furman Univ. Athletics: Men's Soccer Roster. eweb.furman.edu.
  2. Web site: Reference at www.newsobserver.com.
  3. Web site: John Bradford. www.northcarolinafc.com.
  4. Web site: North Carolina's John Bradford Named League One Coach of the Month for May. uslleagueone.com. 9 June 2022. 15 June 2022.
  5. Web site: John Bradford Inks Multi-Year Extension as Head Coach of North Carolina FC. northcarolinafc.com. 15 June 2022. 15 July 2022.
  6. Web site: 2023 USL League One Playoffs. uslleagueone.com. 5 November 2023. 24 April 2022.