first family of american soccer

In the US National team's 2-nil victory over a struggling Mexico side, 21 year-old midfielder Michael Bradley contributed the US brace. Bradley, who plays for German Bundesliga side, Borussia Mönchengladbach, also holds another distinction. He is the son of US national team coach Bob Bradley.

Fathers and sons have played baseball together, Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr for the Seattle Mariners; they have driven together, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr.; and they have skated together, Gordie and Mark Howe; now Michael and Bob Bradley join the list as a father and son tandem at their sports highest level.

Michael Bradley was born in Princeton, NJ then spent a soccer brat youth following his father's soccer manager career. Bradley never considered another profession signing with MLS at the age of 16 and entering the 2004 MLS super draft, selected 36th by the Metrostars. In 2008, he signed a 4 year contract with Borussia Mönchengladbach. Michael Bradley's international career began in 2006 when he was picked to train with the US national team in the build up to the 2006 World Cup.

Bob Bradley born in Montclair, NJ in 1958 holds the record for most wins in MLS history. His MLS coaching career spanned nine seasons and three clubs (Chicago Fire, Metrostars, and Chivas USA). The current coach of the US national side, he built a record of 12-1-5 in his first year in that post. Bradley had taken over for Bruce Arena, who had led the US national team in their last two World Cup campaigns.

Bob and Michael Bradley and first team regulars such as Landon Donovan, DeMarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey, and Freddie Hejduk beat the Sven-Goran Eriksson led Mexican side in a 2010 World Cup qualifying match on Wednesday night. Mexican captain Rafa Marquez received a red card in the match and will miss Mexico's next World Cup qualifying match against Coasta Rica. Marquez saw red for his violent, studs first challenge on American keeper Tim Howard.

This win over Mexico is a positive beginning to the Bradley era of United States World Cup play. Mexico has consistently been the barometer for US success on the international stage. Jack Bell, of the New York Times Goal blog, writes "The seminal win for the United States came on June 17, 2002, in the second round of the World Cup in Jeonju, South Korea. Goals by Landon Donovan and Brian McBride eliminated Mexico, 2-0. The United States advanced to the quarterfinals, where it lost to Germany, 1-0. Since then, the United States has lost only once to Mexico." This may rank on the list of wins over Mexico, as the US side dominated the game from beginning to end. Mexico had made it out of the first round in the 2006 World Cup losing in extra-time to international powerhouse, Argentina. They are currently ranked 24th in the world by FIFA.

The Bradley led US national team currently holds the 20th place in FIFA's world rankings above former World Cup champion Uruguay and a Norweign side, who recently upset 2nd ranked Germany. 21 year old Michael and rookie international coach Bob certainly show sign of an American side ready to charge up the rankings in South Africa in 2010.