When Bob Bradley was fired as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team in July 2011, he couldn’t have known that his next job would see him become one of the most important men in the world. But the force of history has a way of putting people in unlikely places.
Egypt is reeling from the effects of its current revolutionary period, which has divided the country in many ways. Bradley, now head coach of Egypt’s national team, has the task of leading the Pharaohs to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the wish to see Egypt play on the world’s biggest stage is one of the few, if only, things all Egyptians seem to have in common these days.
Bradley discussed his “crazy adventure” in a recent appearance on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
“The only thing Egypt agrees on right now is that we must go to the World Cup,” Bradley told interim host John Oliver.
“That’s all on you!” Oliver replied.
The veteran coach touched on other aspects of the unique challenge he faces. Domestic soccer in Egypt ground to a halt in early 2012 when scores of young fans were killed in what Bradley calls a “massacre” at a soccer game in Port Said, Egypt. The Egyptian Premier League was suspended for year, temporarily restarted (without fans in stadiums), then shut down again after the army took control of the country in June.
All the while, Bradley has guided Egypt through the World Cup qualifying process to great effect. He has kept the players fit and focused on the most important mission of their careers in time of national turmoil, and the Pharaohs are one step away from achieving their goal and helping to unify the country.
Watch Part 1 of Bradley’s appearance on The Daily Show below.
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Watch Part 2 of Bradley’s appearance on The Daily Show below.
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Thumbnail photo via Flickr/Doha Stadium Plus
