Atlanta provided the blueprint for modern MLS expansion teams this year, but Bob Bradley and LAFC won’t necessarily be using it when they join the league next year.
Instead, Bradley is looking back to his days with the Chicago Fire, who he led to the MLS Cup-US Open Cup double in their expansion season of 1998.
“Every city, every club does it its own way,” Bradley told ESPN FC’s Tom Marshall in an interview published on Tuesday. “If you go back 20 years, we had a real connection between the Fire and the city of Chicago and I’ll never forget what that felt like.
“So when I had discussions here [at LAFC] and go and see what’s happening at Banc of California Stadium and the location and I have a chance to get out and be with our supporters, then immediately I think about that feeling of connecting with a city.”
Bradley and LAFC GM John Thorrington have been crisscrossing the globe scouting in recent weeks, with Bradley recently spotted in Costa Rica. Bradley and Thorrington have also scouted in Europe and South America, according to an LAFC spokesperson. The manager said the club will take a global approach to building their inaugural roster, with the hope of blending experience and a good deal of young talent like he did with the 1998 Fire.
“In Chicago, what we did really well was we found some experienced European players like Peter Nowak, Lubos Kubik, Hristo Stoichkov, Roman Kosecki and then combined that with the right Americans, with Chris Armas, Jesse Marsch, Ante Razov and then later Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley and Josh Wolff.
“If you have experience and young talent, that’s ideal. I still have that picture in mind.”
Check out ESPN FC’s full interview for more from Bradley.
