Bob Bradley to coach MLS newcomers LAFC

The 59-year-old Bradley hasn’t coached in MLS since leaving Chivas USA to become head coach of the United States in 2006, a job he held until the summer of 2011.

Since leaving the US men’s team, Bradley has led the Egyptian national team, Norwegian club Stabaek, French side Le Havre and, most recently, English Premier League club Swansea.

He became the first American to manage in the EPL when Swansea hired him last October, but he was sacked in December after just 85 days in the job.

Bradley served as an assistant under Bruce Arena for the DC United teams that won the MLS Cup in 1996 and 1997 and was hired as head coach of the Chicago Fire for their debut season in 1998.

He led the Fire to the best first season in MLS history, guiding them to the MLS Cup and US Open Cup double.

Bradley, whose son is USA and Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley, compiled 43 wins in 80 games at the helm of the national team.

He was in charge for their 2007 Gold Cup triumph and their runner-up finish at the 2009 Confederations Cup and when they won their group before losing to Ghana in extra-time in the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup.

A 4-2 loss to Mexico in the 2011 Gold Cup final, however, spelled the end of his tenure in charge of the USA.

As LAFC named Bradley as their first coach on Thursday, there was also a coaching shake-up at the established Los Angeles Galaxy franchise.

One year and a day after he was sacked by the Seattle Sounders, Sigi Schmid returned to the coaching ranks when he was tabbed to take over from sacked Curt Onalfo.

First-year coach Onalfo was hired to replace Arena after he left LA to take charge of the USA in November.

But the Galaxy are currently ninth in the Western Conference and 19th in the overall league table — five points behind Vancouver for the West’s sixth and final playoff spot.

Schmid’s first game in charge of the Galaxy will be against the Sounders — the team Schmid coached for more than seven seasons before he was dismissed last year.