Bob Bradley to remain U.S. men’s soccer coach

Bob Bradley will remain as coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team for another four years, U.S. Soccer announced Monday afternoon.

The 52-year-old Manhattan Beach resident guided the U.S. into the second round of the World Cup this summer after winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2008 and finishing in first place, ahead of Mexico, in regional qualifying for South Africa 2010.

His record since taking charge of the American team in 2007 is 38-20-8, and his most notable victory came when the U.S. beat European champion Spain in the semifinals of last year’s Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Bradley’s post-World Cup comments about being attracted to the possibility of coaching abroad — notably in England — had led to speculation that he would reject a second term, but the federation ended those notions Monday.

There had also been reports that Sunil Gulati, the president of U.S. Soccer, was considering other candidates, and Major League Soccer reported Sunday that Gulati had met with former German national team coach Juergen Klinsmann.

Terms of the new deal were not revealed. Bradley had been earning a reported $600,000 per year plus performance bonuses under his current contract, which expires Dec. 31.