2004–2005 MetroStarsMichael Bradley is an American football player. He plays in the midfield position for Toronto FC, a Canada-based club that plays in Major League Soccer. He also serves as captain of the club. He is known for his incredible skill and talent which has seen him rise to the top of the league and excel spectacularly for both club and country. He has played for several top-flight clubs across the continent such as Borussia Monchengladbach, Aston Villa, Chievo, Roma, and the Dutch club Heerenveen.
He has enjoyed serious success and acclaim on the international front as a member of the United States National Team, delivering landmark performances that have seen the club through many competitions. He even captained the squad from time to time. He is appreciated fit being a player that can excel in different midfield roles whether it’s holding down the center, being down in the hole, going box-to-box, or even as a deep-lying playmaker.
His rare and precious abilities are what make him the third highest-paid soccer player in the MLS, pulling in a whopping $6 million annual salary and compensation amounting to $6.5 million in total.
Michael Bradley Biography [Age]
The soccer player was born on July 31, 1987, to Bob and Lindsay Bradley in Princeton, New Jersey. His father was once the head coach for Princeton University’s soccer team. He also coached Chicago Fire in the MLS, as well as the United States national men’s team. He has also served as the manager for Swansea City, an English Club.
Bradley was raised in Palatine, Illinois where he went to high school. Considering his father’s deep involvement in football, it was not surprising that Bradley took an interest in the sport from an early age and began training right away. He spent his growing years playing for Sockers FC, helping them to the National Championships in 2002 where they came third place. He is an alumnus of the U.S Under-17 Men’s National Team Residency Program, where he trained, learned, and practiced for two years.
After he completed the program, Bradley signed a deal with the MLS that kick-started his professional career at sixteen. He was picked during the 2004 draft by the MetroStars. Although he missed out on his debut season due to a foot injury, he went to make thirty appearances the following season, netting his first pro career goal in the very last game of the season against Chivas USA.
He made history in 2006, when Heerenveen bought him for $250,000, making him the youngest player to be sold. He began excelling immediately, aiding his new team to a chance at the UEFA Cup. He became recognized as a leading goalscorer, breaking the records for most goals scored in a European first division by an American player in one season, with eighteen goals.
Bradley went on to Borussia Monchengladbach later in 2008, where he stayed for two seasons before being loaned off to Aston Villa. The soccer player didn’t enjoy much success at the new club, so he took his skills to Chievo and remained there for a season before signing a four-year contract with Roma on a €3.75 million transfer fee. Although he did pretty well, he only lasted two seasons with Roma before transferring to Toronto FC in January 2014 for a whopping $10 million. He quickly established himself at the new club and rose to captain.
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On the international front, Michael Bradley has been a member of the U.S U-17 and U-18. He made his senior national team debut on May 26, 2006. He was also an integral part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad. He earned his first cap during that competition. He has received several awards and recognition for his brilliant style of play. Bradley won U.S Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2015, as well as Fútbol de Primera Player of the Year. He has been part of the MLS All-Star team for three years running from 2014-2017. A Golden Ball Award and a CONCACAF Gold Cup are also on his awards list. Bradley is 31 years old at present.
Salary and Net Worth
Considering that Bradley is a very experienced player, who has played for several top-rated clubs in Europe and the United States, it is no surprise that he is well valued, and that is reflected in his salary and consequent net worth. He is one of the highest earners in the MLS, collecting a huge salary from his club, Toronto FC. Although his weekly wage figures are not public knowledge, the soccer player earns $6.5 million annually by way of salaries. Michael Bradley is estimated to have a net worth of $13 million, a sum that is guaranteed to rise as the years move on.
Height and Weight
Athletes are usually in amazing physical shape thanks to the rigorous training and exercises they have to undergo to excel at their sport. Michael Bradley is not exempt. He weighs around 87 kg, which sits nicely on his 6 feet 2 frames. The player leverages his height and weight on the pitch to dominate the midfield and run circles around other players.
Eastern Conference (Playoffs): 2016, 2017, 2019
Supporters’ Shield: 2017
Canadian Championship: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020; runner-up: 2019
CONCACAF Champions League runner-up: 2018
Campeones Cup runner-up: 2018
FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2009
IFFHS CONCACAF Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 2015
CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Ball: 2017
CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2017, 2019
MLS All-Star: 2014, 2015, 2017
Fútbol de Primera Player of the Year: 2015
Red Patch Boys Player of the Year: 2014
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