SOME LOFTY GOALS Bradley sets his sights on big clubs
Michael Bradley: "When I look back on my career, I want to say that I played for big clubs, that I was successful, that I was able to win medals." Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Like many American soccer players, Michael Bradley wants to play at the highest levels in Europe.
He is halfway there, having not only become a starter for Heerenveen in the Eredivisie, but an impact player this season in the Dutch First Division.
In fact, the former MetroStars midfielder has scored 13 goals for Heerenveen this season, which is a record for an American-bred and born player in a European First Division, according to Soccer America.
"When I look back on my career, I want to say that I played for big clubs, that I was successful, that I was able to win medals," Bradley said in a telephone interview Thursday. "That's what I'm trying to do. It's not something I'm worried about or spending a lot of time thinking about it. The minute you start doing that, your performances on the field suffer."
Bradley, who performed for the MetroStars from 2004-2005, recently declined to talking to Heerenveen about extending his contract, which expires in 2009. Heerenveen technical director Yme Kuiper said that the team would be open to offers for the player.
"Before we even got into anything, I said to them, look, I appreciate the chance the club has given me," Bradley said. "The people at the club, from the coaches and the coaches on the team side all the way up, everybody have been incredible. But having said that, I want to someday play in the biggest leagues in the world with the biggest clubs. I want to play in the Champions League. I said to them, for these reasons, I don't think it makes sense to us to have any conversation. I would be wasting your time and that would not be fair to you guys. I want to be up front with you guys right away."
Bradley, 20, said that Heerenveen said they respected what he said, but since his family, including his father, U.S. national coach Bob Bradley was going to the Netherlands for the Christmas holidays, why doesn't he think about it and talk to the club about it then.
"We did that over the holidays and I again explained to Heerenveen the same thing," he said. "I liked the club. I'm very comfortable here."
But . . .
"At some point, whether it is now, whether it is next summer, whether it's next year, you never know when the opportunities come, but at some point I want to move on to a bigger club in a bigger league. For me, when I came to Heerenveen, that was the goal. I wanted to come and establish myself at Heerenveen, wanted to establish myself as an important player at the club, establish myself as a very good player in Europe. I feel like at a certain point, I'm excited to challenge myself at a bigger club. Like I said, I don't know when that is.
"As a player you have to just. I don't spend a whole of time thinking about it, to be honest with you. The only times I think about it is when you get questions from the media, like you've done know or like a day or two ago. That's the main thing for me. Right now, every day I go into training and into the games. We have a really good team here and we're doing well. I'm just concentrating on that. The rest will take care of itself."
Heerenveen (11-6-4, 37 point) is in fifth place, trailing leader PSV Eindhoven (13-3-4, 43) with 13 games remaining in the season.
Bradley remembered some advice his father gave him before he joined Heerenveen two years ago.
"When I left, my dad has always said to me, 'You only get one career. The way soccer works, it doesn't last forever. During your career, every day you go into training, you give everything you have to your team to make yourself better. And when certain opportunities come, you can't be afraid to challenge yourself and put yourself on the line.'" Bradley said. "That's what I want to do."
Hamburg of the German Bundesliga reportedly has expressed interest in Bradley.
"Right now, I think it’s best not to talk about any specifics," Bradley said.
