Article by: Dineo Modise (Journalist)
Following the departure of manager Chris Armas in September 2020, former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana defender Bradley Carnell was appointed interim head coach of the New York Red Bulls in MLS (Major League Soccer). Carnell formerly served as Head Coach of University of Johannesburg Men’s’ Team, Assistant Coach to Giovanni Solinas at Free State Stars and Assistant Coach to Muhsin Ertugral at Orlando Pirates after hanging up his boots.
He arrived in New York to work with The Metros in March 2017 as Chris Armas’ assistant coach, a partnership influenced by Head of Sport & Development Red Bull, Ralf Rangnick who coached Carnell at VfB Stuttgart (Germany) and saw him as someone with the right attributes for the team.
The New York Red Bulls who have been in the middle of a dismal campaign, made improvements after clinging for a play-off spot and turning into play-off contenders when Carnell took charge of six MLS games winning 3 matches, including a 4-1 win against Thierry Henry’s Montreal, placing the Metros sixth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Major League Soccer was once described as a league where players go to finish their careers and it is now a distributor of the brightest young talent in the game. Carnell is one of South Africa’s brightest tacticians who has gained respect and good credibility as a player in the Bundesliga for 12 years and his background adds great value to the New York Red Bulls.