- Title: New Swansea City manager Bradley says he is a football manager first
- Date: 7th October 2016
- Summary: SWANSEA, WALES, UK (OCTOBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) (MUTE) NEW SWANSEA CITY MANAGER BOB BRADLEY WALKING UP STEPS TO BE INTERVIEWED SWANSEA, WALES, UK (OCTOBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) (MUTE) (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW SWANSEA CITY MANAGER BOB BRADLEY AT NEWS CONFERENCE SAYS: "With football in the United States we have always understood that we have to earn respect. And when I was with the national team every time we got the chance to play in Europe the players and I would understand today is one more day when we can show what the game is like in our country, and so if in some way this helps I am proud of what I have been able to do, so if that helps some people down the road. "But this bit about pioneer and all the rest, I am not an American manager. I am a football manager, all right? So when I come here I realise that there is not one person in Swansea who could care less what anybody in the United States thinks at the moment, okay? They care about their football club, and man I am here to give everything I have for the fans, for the club and I couldn't be more excited about the chance." SWANSEA, WALES, UK (OCTOBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) (MUTE) NEW SWANSEA CITY MANAGER BOB BRADLEY BEING INTERVIEWED SWANSEA, WALES, UK (OCTOBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) (MUTE) (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW SWANSEA CITY MANAGER BOB BRADLEY SAYS: "I am going to learn a lot more but I know enough about Swansea City football club. I had seen 'Jack to a King' before this week. I didn't wait until this week to find that and put it into my computer. And most of all what I know is that when you have a club with a soul, a club that has real passion and real supporters, for me that is special. "And so the idea of coming to a club like that and of course to be in the Premier League where you get challenged at the highest level."
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2016 18:19
- Keywords: Bob Bradley Swansea City Premier League
- Location: SWANSEA, WALES, UK
- City: SWANSEA, WALES, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0015309PA7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Newly appointed Swansea City manager Bob Bradley played down the "pioneer" tag thrust upon him, insisting that the fortunes of the Welsh club were more important than personal milestones.
Bradley, the former U.S. national team manager, became the first American coach in England's top flight after being appointed by Swansea earlier this week following the departure of seasoned Italian Francesco Guidolin.
"But this stuff about being a pioneer - I'm not an American manager, I'm a football manager," the 58-year-old told reporters.
"There's not one person in Swansea who could care less what anybody in the United States thinks at the moment, okay? They care about their football club, and man I am here to give everything I have for the fans, for the club and I couldn't be more excited about the chance."
Bradley will be asked to boost the morale of the struggling Welsh side, who are fourth-bottom of the league table.
He said he already knew about the club's rags to riches story, about it being sold to fans for just one pound sterling and built up by them to join the Premier League, a story famously portrayed in a documentary film "Jack to a King."
"I am going to learn a lot more but I know enough about Swansea City football club. I had seen 'Jack to a King' before this week. I didn't wait until this week to find that and put it into my computer," Bradley said. "Most of all what I know is that when you have a club with a soul, a club that has real passion and real supporters, for me that is special."
He added he was excited to be joining a Premier League club "where you get challenged at the highest level." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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