South African coach Bradley Carnell made history by becoming the first-ever head coach of the new MLS expansion club St Louis City, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Former Bafana Bafana defender Bradley Carnell will lead St Louis City in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2023. The 44-year-old built a reputation for himself in America as an assistant at New York Red Bulls since 2017.
The South African spent the past five seasons in New York on the coaching staff of the Red Bulls and even had a stint as the interim head coach in 2020 following the dismissal of Chris Armas. In that role, he led the team to a sixth-place finish in the MLS Eastern Conference 2020 before returning to his role as an assistant for the 2021 season and helping the team qualify for the MLS playoffs.
‘I am grateful to be a part of the St Louis City family, a team where I can help build something special in a city that is already so passionate about soccer,’ said Carnell. ‘We want to build a competitive team through the heavy use of data, technology and a keen focus on individual player development. I am looking forward to establishing a team that reflects St Louis – one that’s diverse, hardworking and community-led. I am thrilled to help create the future of the sport in an incredible soccer city.’
Following an extensive search for a head coach that mirrored the club’s vision and sporting philosophy, St Louis City SC sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel believes Carnell’s hands-on approach, proven success and passion for developing younger players made him the ideal candidate for the club.
‘We can honestly say that we got our top candidate for the club’s first head coach position, and wanted to get him on board early given the integral role he’ll play in building our team,’ said Pfannenstiel.
‘We knew it was important to have someone who understood the ins and outs of the MLS, as well as the international market, and Bradley has all the attributes we were looking for. His experience as a player and coach set him apart, and I am confident that he will help us to build a very competitive team for our inaugural 2023 season.
‘As a player, he embodied the intense, counter-press and quick transitional play that will define City’s style of play and as a coach, works tirelessly on and off the pitch to develop those abilities in players,’ added Pfannenstiel.
‘His hunger and determination to succeed will get the best out of our players. Bradley and I speak a common language when it comes to our playing philosophy and he and I are fully aligned on the importance of identifying and developing players for our high-press style.’
Carnell will be tasked with the responsibility of executing the club’s football philosophy as well as playing a major role in handling the club’s development structures and getting the first team ready for the step up to the MLS.
The South African will bring a wealth of experience, having played for Wits University, Kaizer Chiefs, VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Monchengladbach, Karlsruher SC, Hansa Rostock and SuperSport United. At an international level, Carnell made 42 appearances for Bafana Bafana and was part of the team that played in the 2002 World Cup.
On the managerial front, Carnell started his career as head coach for the University of Johannesburg men’s team followed by an assistant coaching role at Orlando Pirates. He then made his way to the MLS with the New York Red Bulls where he made a reputation for himself as one of the rising coaching talents in the MLS.
The former SuperSport United defender now has his work cut out for him though, with just over a year left to build the first-ever St Louis City team and have it ready for the 2023 season.
Full Name: Bradley Neil Carnell
Date Of Birth: 21 January 1977
Place Of Birth: Johannesburg, South Africa
Height: 1.74 m
Position: Defender
International Caps: 42
