Razov-Bradley Reunion Pays Off for Chivas USA
The equation is simple for Chivas USA forward Ante Razov and Coach Bob Bradley.
Wherever Bradley goes, Razov soon follows.
They met when Bradley coached the Chicago Fire and the two helped the team win the Major League Soccer title in 1998. A brief stint last year with the MetroStars reunited them.
So when Bradley was hired as Chivas coach in November, it was only natural for him to reacquire his attacking forward with the lively left foot.
Razov, 32, has butted heads with coaches, including last season with Greg Andrulis, then the Columbus Crew coach. But he and Bradley have developed a mutual respect.
“The relationship has always been on placing the bar high for him,” Bradley said. “It’s important for a player like Ante to score goals, but also to notice the little things he can do to help out the team.”
Razov is doing both for Chivas USA. He leads the league with 10 goals, is tied for the lead with six assists and has helped the second-year team win five games to already surpass last season’s total.
“It’s a very honest relationship,” said Razov, a UCLA graduate who was acquired as part of a trade for forward Thiago Martins.
“He understands me as a person and on the field. He lets me know when it’s not good enough and I have to give more.”
The difference in Chivas’ revamped attacking line is substantial, said Juan Francisco “Paco” Palencia, Razov’s striking partner.
“Last year, we didn’t have someone like Ante who scores in all the chances he gets,” Palencia said. “Every time he touches the ball, it’s dangerous for the other team.”
No other MLS player has scored as many goals with a coach as Razov has under Bradley, but things haven’t always been peachy between the two.
While with the Fire in 2000, Razov became upset when Bradley didn’t choose him to take a penalty kick he earned by being pulled down inside the restricted area. The two tussled in a shoving and shouting match after Razov rebuffed a Bradley handshake attempt.
“There’s always disagreements and I forgot about that as soon as it happened,” Razov said.
Razov is already closing in on goal-scoring records. His 94 goals are third most in MLS, nine behind Real Salt Lake’s Jason Kreis and eight behind D.C. United’s Jaime Moreno.
“I would trade those things in a heartbeat for the three MLS championships I’ve played in and lost,” Razov said.
For Razov, this season has been a roller coaster ride, as he balances leading a new team while dealing with tragedy. His grandfather, Ivan, died in Croatia the week of Chivas USA’s second game against the Galaxy. Razov wanted to attend the funeral, but his family persuaded him to stay for the game. He scored the team’s two goals in Chivas’ first victory over its Home Depot Center co-tenant.
“That was for him,” Razov said. “It was a good present for my grandpa.”
His signing with Chivas is also a homecoming for Razov, a Whittier native who was a reserve during his first two MLS seasons with the Galaxy.
“Ticket requests are up, but it’s nice to see family and old buddies after the game and then we go have barbecues,” Razov said. “A lot of MLS players don’t have that and I’m going to take advantage of it.”
Razov says he hopes to lead the team into the playoffs, but on his return home after a circuitous route, he is also intent on enjoying the ride.
“I’ve been through a lot of the wars before,” he said.
