<p><a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/a-new-day-for-american-coaches-948/usmnt" rel="attachment wp-att-949"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-949" src="/files/2008/08/nowak-bradley.jpg" alt="" width="249" height="218"></figure></div></a>Former MLS and U.S. men’s national team coach Bob Bradley was <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/09/14/report-bob-bradley-takes-egypt-national-team-job" target="_blank">appointed</a> today by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) to coach their senior men’s national team. &nbsp;Bradley, fired by the USMNT this summer, had been rumored for months to be taking over the Pharaohs but was just today confirmed finally as the head coach. &nbsp;This is Bradley’s first coaching opportunity outside of the United States; at various times in the past fifteen months he had been linked with Fulham, Aston Villa and Santos Laguna. &nbsp;Bradley follows in the footsteps of a fellow USMNT head man, Steve Sampson, who took over the Costa Rican national team after his disastrous U.S. national team stint.</p>
<p>While Bradley’s spokespeople have not commented on the hiring, EFA spokesman Azmy Megahed <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=ap-egypt-bradley" target="_blank">told the Associated Press</a> that Bradley is expected to arrive in Cairo this weekend to finalise the deal. “All is good. Bradley will be here on Sunday to sign the contract,” Megahed said. &nbsp;Terms have not been disclosed.</p>
<p>During the interview process, Bradley had taken a veiled shot at American soccer, <a href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/52/20104/Sports/National-Teams/Bradley-promises-Egypt-glory-at--World-Cup-.aspx" target="_blank">telling CNN Arabic</a>, “The Egyptian team is well qualified to be a dangerous opponent, but it only lacks some organisation on the field. The Egyptian player is a talented one unlike the American who depends mainly on his fitness.” &nbsp;Bradley reportedly beat out former Colombia coach Francisco Maturana, former Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac and ex-Montenegro manager Zoran Filipovic for the head coaching job.</p>
<p>The Egyptian job is certainly a challenging one, as the team has recently fallen on hard times. &nbsp;The Pharaohs won their third straight African Cup of Nations in 2010, but failed to qualify for the 2012 tournament; it was the first time in 33 years they did not qualify for the tournament. &nbsp;Historically, while the team has had success in the continental tournament, it has only qualified for two World Cups with the most recent being the 1990 Italian edition. &nbsp;The team is mostly composed of Egyptian league players, with the biggest names being Borussia Dortmund’s Mohamed Zidan and Sunderland’s Ahmen El-Muhammadi. &nbsp;The roster is older and many of the upper youth team players have yet to catch on internationally, yet Egypt still has a FIFA ranking of 34.</p>
<p>Qualifying for the World Cup, especially with the rise of Ghana, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, will be a challenge for the Egyptians but not impossible. &nbsp;Currently, the Confederation of African Football is in the group stage, with Egypt in a group with Guinea (68), Zimbabwe (86), and either Comoros (175) or Mozambique (103). &nbsp;If Egypt finishes first, they move to the third round with the nine other group winners, where they will play five two-legged knock-out ties. &nbsp;The five teams with the highest point totals advance to the World Cup. &nbsp;This is a long way of saying that as long as Egypt takes care of business (like they should) they have a great chance of making the 2014 World Cup, which would go a long way to restoring Bradley’s international reputation.</p>
<p>What do you think of Bob Bradley’s new job? &nbsp;Is it good for U.S. soccer that an American coach is managing outside of CONCACAF?</p>


Bob Bradley Hired to Coach Egyptian National Team

Bob Bradley Hired to Coach Egyptian National Team - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-4416" src="/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/plaxo-logo-300x103.jpg" alt="plaxo-logo" width="300" height="103"></figure></div>
<p>Previously on EPL Talk, we identified some of the <a href="http://epltalk.com/myspace-pages-of-famous-soccer-celebrities/703" target="_blank">top footballers on MySpace</a> and <a href="http://epltalk.com/most-famous-soccer-players-on-facebook/1098/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Now it’s the turn of Plaxo, the online address book used by more than 40 million people worldwide.</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/47246408869?pk=ba48557dc6646df4a73eff7adf4699beceee9be4" target="_blank">Steve Sampson</a>. It’s pretty sad when someone spends practically his entire career in sport and what he’s remembered most for is his role as manager of the 1998 U.S. World Cup side which lost every game in the first round of the tournament. Still, at least you can request to be a contact of his on Plaxo.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/17180458375?pk=565e56f3af579911d2e979bf4c8fafa8664c0fab" target="_blank">Thomas Dooley</a>. German-born Dooley played 81 times for the U.S. national team, and was a key player in the U.S.’s successful 1994 World Cup tournament. Dooley went on to play for Columbus Crew and the Metrostars in Major League Soccer.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/17180664851?pk=fc90aef2db13774655f2aabcfaa91b583c6f8d34" target="_blank">Marcelo Balboa</a>. Known by many as the other half of the comedic duo Balboa and O’Brien (Dave), for their so-bad-it-was-hilarious commentating during the 2006 World Cup, Balboa was a former captain for the U.S. national team as well as a central figure at the Colorado Rapids from 1996-2001.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/90197320911?pk=a8e48e2722757b9d4fcf326a08d0b1f23d945daf" target="_blank">Jeff Agoos</a>. The former DC United defender was just inducted into the Soccer Hall Of Fame. Born in Switzerland, Agoos (nicknamed Goose) won five MLS championships (three with DC United, and two with San Jose).</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/115964617152?pk=0dc2cfbab638b60b0c020ac3eb4ead830ac90122" target="_blank">Juergen Sommer</a>. When pundits talk about American goalkeepers having played in Europe, Sommer is often overlooked despite the fact that he played more years in England than he did in the United States. In England, he played for Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers, before playing in the United States for MLS teams Columbus Crew and New England Revolution.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/77312387000?pk=f20041e2fe4d6e64f3afcaac688ee7eab9ae373a" target="_blank">Derek Rae</a>. Everyone’s favorite ESPN commentator has elevated the quality of the Champions League in the United States with superb commentating and a unmistakeable voice.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/21474881453?pk=5fed04bb99010ac392d70c6594c5d7ab33d096ac" target="_blank">Fernando Clavijo</a>. The former Colorado Rapids and Haiti national team manager played 61 times for the United States and was a veteran of the indoor soccer game in the country having played for the San Diego Sockers, among other teams.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/8590971874?pk=59e0a0a89aabf29d32c336223bffc4f581250d33" target="_blank">Janusz Michallik</a>. Michallik is now best known as one of the co-hosts of ESPN’s PressPass show, but the Polish defender made 44 appearances for the United States national team as well as playing in Major League Soccer for the Columbus Crew and New England Revolution.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/318229?pk=a7ea267ca82c6b5cdee6bd51e546ff15f11ae503" target="_blank">Phil Schoen</a>. The voice of American soccer is Phil Schoen, GolTV’s quality lead commentator who knows the ins and outs of most major (and minor) soccer leagues in the world.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.plaxo.com/profile/show/206158932097?pk=d2f0869c81120aa1e3160b48b42fa803d82fad07" target="_blank">Adrian Healey</a>. Last but not least, the commentator is a regular part of ESPN’s soccer coverage whether it’s Euro 2008, Champions League, World Cup or, on NBC, the Summer Olympic Games.</li>
</ol>


Famous Soccer Celebrities On Plaxo

Famous Soccer Celebrities On Plaxo - World Soccer Talk

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Bob Bradley Hired to Coach Egyptian National Team

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Famous Soccer Celebrities On Plaxo