Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley blows a kiss to supporters after a game against the Vancouver Whitecaps, at BMO Field, in Toronto, on Sept. 16.Kevin Sousa/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
Four years ago, with Michael Bradley’s contract expiring at the end of the season, Toronto FC supporters made their feeling known by hoisting a giant banner honouring him in the south stand of BMO Field.
Underneath the tifo, which showed Bradley applauding the fans, a smaller banner read “Your City. Your Legacy. Our Captain Forever.”
Bradley, who would sign a new deal some three months later, had kept his contract negotiations under wraps to avoid distractions.
The 36-year-old midfielder went to the same playbook in announcing Tuesday he is retiring after TFC’s season finale Saturday against visiting Orlando City.
No fanfare. Just a simple Instagram post, showing Bradley as a boy kicking a soccer ball. “A dream come true. Thank you, for everything. MB.” read the caption.
A release from the club soon followed.
“For the last 10 years I have spilled my blood, sweat and tears trying to help this club be the best it could be,” Bradley said in the statement. “There were some incredible days – moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life – and some bad ones too. But I never stopped giving everything I had.
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and everyone inside the club. Thank you to the fans for the unforgettable nights at BMO Field. This city and this club will always be home.”
Bradley has operated under the radar most of the season and was rarely available to discuss his future at the club which is currently languishing at the bottom of the MLS standings at 4-19-10. He underwent surgery on his hamstring in May and did not return to action until August. In the meantime his father, Bob Bradley, was fired as head coach and sporting director.
In his 10 seasons in Toronto, Michael Bradley was the club’s undisputed leader and alpha dog.
“He sets the standard for everybody down in that locker-room as to what it should look like when you come to work every single day,” then-Toronto-coach Greg Vanney said in November, 2019, on the eve of Bradley’s 200th game for Toronto.
Bradley was the first out on the pitch before every game, to inspect the turf. During warm-ups, he was soccer’s equivalent to Tony Robbins, clapping his hands and talking to his teammates.
His departure is likely the first of many as new coach John Herdman picks among the roster wreckage of the once-proud franchise.
Herdman praised Bradley last week, but also signalled change could be coming.
“He knows the respect I have for him,” Herdman said. “He knows that I think heroes have always got to return and there’s an opportunity to return next year for Mike. What he has innately as a human being is a leadership quality and quantity that you just can’t buy. But I think for Michael, he’s got to really feel that this is where he wants to be. He’s got to feel the purpose. He’s got to feel that Toronto FC and that return to rebuild the club is what he wants to invest his life in.
“And if it’s not there at 100 per cent, we both know it can’t work. And we’ve been honest.”
Bradley’s decision came Tuesday.
Canadian midfielder Jonathan Osorio, the club’s longest-serving player, merits consideration as the next TFC captain. Osorio is as honest as the day is long and equally committed to the club as Bradley.
Plus he is a known quantity for Herdman from their Canada days together.
Bradley joined Toronto in January, 2014, as a designated player, along with Jermain Defoe.
The U.S. captain was second fiddle to the England striker – TFC parked a double-decker bus with the Toronto FC logo and the words “It’s a Bloody Big Deal” outside their joint news conference at Real Sports bar and grill.
But it was Defoe who left after one season while Bradley became a fixture. He recently made his 300th appearance for Toronto across all competitions.
“Over the past decade with Toronto FC, Michael Bradley has become a club legend,” Toronto president Bill Manning said in a statement. “As captain in over 300 games, Michael has raised many trophies along the way and has represented this club in the best possible way. His accomplishments with TFC will live on forever and all of us at the club thank him for the memories.”
Added GM Jason Hernandez, who played alongside Bradley: “As a member of Toronto FC, Michael served as the captain and driving force of the most prolific period of success in our club’s history.”
Bradley scored 19 goals in 308 appearances in all competitions for the club. But goals were not his forte. Winning was.
Toronto, which had won just 51 regular-season games in the seven seasons before Bradley arrived, won 96 in his first seven campaigns which included trips to the MLS Cup final in 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Bradley led Toronto to one MLS Cup, one Supporters’ Shield and four Canadian Championships, helping the club to an unprecedented treble in 2017 (MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship).
In 2018, TFC made it to the final of the CONCACAF Champions League, losing to Guadalajara in a penalty shootout.