Michael Bradley plays on for the U.S. soccer team following dismissal of his father

PHILADELPHIA — For four years, through training camps, qualifiers and a World Cup, they were together on the U.S. men’s national soccer team: Bob Bradley, the analytical head coach, and Michael, his son and industrious midfielder.

But when the U.S. Soccer Federation decided two weeks ago to hire German legend Juergen Klinsmann, Michael Bradley found himself playing on the U.S. squad for someone other than his father for the first time since his maiden call-ups in 2006.

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Although the coaching move probably won’t change the player’s standing in the program, the thought of just one Bradley involved in the program takes a little getting used to. Father and son shared the same mannerisms, speech patterns, even the same haircut — which is to say, tightly sheared.

“All I’ve ever wanted to do is play well for the team and for the country, regardless of who was coaching,” said Michael, who is likely to start in Wednesday night’s friendly against Mexico at Lincoln Financial Field. “It was that way with Bruce [Arena], with my dad and with Juergen now. It was that way the first day and it will be like that until somebody decides one day they don’t want me around anymore.”

Klinsmann certainly seems to want him around. On Tuesday morning, before the first of two workouts, the two chatted over coffee in the hotel cafe. Klinsmann values Bradley’s experience: At age 24, he already has made 59 international appearances and scored nine goals while toiling in European club soccer for more than five years.

Under his father, Michael typically partnered with another defensive midfielder, an arrangement that required synchronization in addition to ball-winning and distribution. Wednesday’s match could provide a glimpse into Klinsmann’s tactical approach and how Bradley, as well as the others, fit into the new system.

With no major tournaments on the horizon, Klinsmann will assess the player pool, introduce new prospects and experiment with fresh styles and formations during a series of friendlies before shaping the team for the start of 2014 World Cup qualifying next summer.

Adjustment is required of all returning players, but because of his unique bond with the previous coach, Michael Bradley might need to make additional modifications moving ahead.

“I’m disappointed for my dad,” he said. “I see as much as anybody how much he puts into something and how he puts his heart on the line every day. I’ve seen that since the time I was little, whether it was at Princeton, or D.C. United or Chicago [where Bob formerly coached] and then with the national team. It’s a quality I admire. When you see it firsthand, it’s only natural to feel disappointment when something ends.

“I can always remember him saying that to coach the national team is a great honor and he would do the best he could for as long as he was given, and when the day came that it was going to be somebody else’s turn, that’s life, that’s soccer.”

Both Bradleys are in transition. Since his U.S. dismissal, Bob has surfaced as a candidate to coach Egypt. If he doesn’t land there or with another national team, he could end up back in MLS this offseason.

Meantime, Michael is looking for a new home in Europe. He seemed set to join Aston Villa after spending last spring on loan with the English Premier League club. But new manager Alex McLeish had other plans. The deal fell through and Bradley remained with his Bundesliga team, Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Three days after his wedding in New Jersey last month, Bradley returned to Germany.

Moenchengladbach Manager Lucien Favre “told me, ‘Everyone was telling me you were staying at Villa. I think you’re a good player but I planned for the season without you. Now that you’re back, there are other guys here and other guys we’re trying to get. Given everything, it’s not a great situation for you.’ Fair enough, I understood.”

So with a year left on Bradley’s contract, Moenchengladbach is looking to sell him before the international transfer window closes at the end of the month. Bradley will continue to practice with the club but probably won’t play. The Bundesliga season commenced last weekend.

“At this point in my career, I’m open for anything,” he said. “I want to find a place where I can continue to improve, where the people are excited to have me, where I can use the next phase of my career, whether it’s two, three or five years, to really establish myself and make myself a better player.”

U.S. Notes: Defender Clarence Goodson (W.T. Woodson High, University of Maryland) was scratched from the roster because of a hamstring injury. Defender Timmy Chandler (club obligations) and midfielder Maurice Edu (calf) were also dropped since the initial list was released last week. . . .

The U.S.-Mexico matchup comes 6¹ / ₂ weeks since they met in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, a 4-2 Mexican victory. “They won the one that counted,” goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “That was the big daddy. When it comes to USA-Mexico, there’s no shortage of motivations. I don’t think we’re going to be blood-hungry looking for revenge. We need to play well, we need to focus on this next game.”