Bob Bradley, the winningest coach in Major League Soccer history, today was named head coach of the MetroStars. Bradley, a native of Essex Fells, NJ who won a state championship at West Essex High School, played collegiately at Princeton and later coached the Tigers to the NCAA Final Four, becomes the first New Jersey-born head coach in the team's history.

"This is a special day for the MetroStars," said team President/General Manager Nick Sakiewicz. "Bob Bradley has established himself as the premier coach in MLS over the past five seasons, and we feel extremely proud and extremely fortunate to be able to bring him back home, to his New Jersey roots, to lead our team into a new era that we believe, now more than ever, includes an MLS Cup title."

The MetroStars had received permission from the Chicago Fire to talk to Bradley, who was still under contract with the team he had coached since its inception in 1998. In return for the right to sign Bradley, the MetroStars sent Rodrigo Faria and a conditional 2004 MLS SuperDraft pick (the MetroStars choice of at least the 12th overall pick or a higher pick) to Chicago as compensation.

"My family and I are thrilled to be coming home to New Jersey," said Bradley. "This is a tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to getting started as soon as possible."

Bradley, 44, coached the Chicago Fire from the team's inception in 1998 through the just-completed 2002 season. He coached the Fire to both the MLS Cup title and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in the team's very first season, earning 1998 MLS Coach of the Year honors along the way, and guided the Fire to the MLS Cup finals and another U.S. Open Cup title in 2000.

In five years with Chicago, Bradley compiled a regular-season record of 82-54-15 (.593), tying him with Thomas Rongen for most wins in league history. He also compiled an MLS playoff record of 13-8-2 (.609), guiding his team to the postseason every year and to at least the MLS Cup semifinals in four of five seasons.