He was a teen on the books at Arsenal when Stephen Bradley practically died in late 2003.
“Inside a minute of coming dwelling, the door was getting kicked in. They put a gun to my head. One was saying: ‘Shoot him, shoot him.’ And the opposite stabbed me; 3 times. That’s all I bear in mind.”
The surgeon who handled him at a London hospital advised Bradley that if the 18-year-old hadn’t deflected the blade, he would have been stabbed by means of the mind.
Not lengthy earlier than he was attacked in his own residence for the sake of an costly watch on his wrist, he had been coaching with Arsene Wenger’s first crew. It was 2003-04, the season Arsenal received the Premier League with out shedding a recreation.
This week Bradley, 40, returns to town the place he moved as a 15-year-old, now because the supervisor of certainly one of Eire’s most historic golf equipment, Shamrock Rovers. On Thursday they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the place Bradley first went on trial on the age of 10.
The UEFA Convention League recreation will probably be particular for Bradley, and for loads of his Rovers gamers who made that very same journey to Premier League academies solely to have their desires dashed.
“I practically died, however it’s among the finest issues that occurred to me,” Bradley tells The Athletic in his workplace at Rovers’ coaching floor in Tallaght, south-west of Dublin metropolis centre. “I made unhealthy selections again then, and I paid for it. However it made me who I’m at the moment, as an individual, and as a supervisor.”
Taking part in for Dublin schoolboy golf equipment Jobstown Celtic, Maryland Boys and Lourdes Celtic, by his early teenagers golf equipment in Eire, England and throughout Europe had been conscious of Bradley’s abilities.
His mom Bernadette fielded calls from many high Premier League managers, with one even visiting the household dwelling within the working class Dublin suburb of Jobstown.
“My older brother’s mates had been all Manchester United followers, and so they couldn’t consider Sir Alex (Ferguson) had come to our door,” Bradley says. “Arsene Wenger and Gerard Houllier had been additionally in common contact with my mam. It’s unimaginable now, however on the time I used to be only a younger lad in Jobstown, who occurred to be good at soccer.”
Among the many most persistent suitors had been Chelsea, the membership Bradley supported as a boy, and the place he had that first trial aged 10.
“I used to be at Chelsea 10 or 15 occasions,” he says. “I went to quite a lot of tournaments with them, educated at Stamford Bridge with Gianfranco Zola, John Terry, Dennis Smart, Tore Andre Flo. I travelled with the crew to the (1997) FA Cup remaining, towards Middlesbrough, when (Roberto) Di Matteo scored in off the bar. I’ve actually fond reminiscences of Chelsea.”
At 15, Bradley determined to affix Arsenal, the place former Republic of Eire midfielder Liam Brady headed the academy. Two years later he signed a pro-contract and was quickly captain of an Arsenal reserve aspect that included David Bentley, Gael Clichy and Jeremie Aliadiere.
“I used to be requested to mould my recreation on Pablo Aimar,” Bradley remembers. “He got here to Highbury with Valencia, he was high class. I bear in mind a reserves recreation towards Chelsea (in August 2003). I beat Winston Bogarde early on. He in all probability made me appear to be Pablo Aimar that day.”
Throughout the Invincibles season of 2003-04, when Arsenal had been unbeaten on their approach to successful the Premier League title, Wenger known as Bradley to coach with the primary crew.
“At first you get imposter syndrome,” he says. “My first few occasions coaching, I used to be nervous, couldn’t cross the ball. Senior gamers actually helped, they demanded and pushed you — Tony Adams, Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole, Dennis Bergkamp. Martin Keown was unimaginable.
“In the future at coaching, I turned out, and Patrick Vieira might have completely smashed me. He pulled me afterwards and defined: ‘In case you do this in a recreation, you’ll get damage.’ He gave me other ways of turning, trying, maneuvering the ball, in order that scenario didn’t occur once more. I had a great deal of these conversations.”
Bradley educated with their superstars, however by no means performed a first-team recreation for Arsenal (Photograph: Tony Marshall/EMPICS by way of Getty Photographs)
However Bradley by no means performed a first-team recreation for Arsenal. Even youthful midfielders Cesc Fabregas and his former housemate Sebastian Larsson moved forward of him.
“To be honest, I ended working, took my foot proper off the fuel,” Bradley says. “In your head you’ve made it, you’re coaching with these boys, incomes some huge cash, taking without any consideration the services, the coaches, the surroundings. Liam (Brady) pulled me apart and stated: ‘Look, it’s good to get going right here.’ Pat Rice (did the identical), Wenger himself too.
“Soccer is ruthless, particularly at that degree. Immediately you possibly can see how particular Fabregas was. It’s too late then, at a membership like Arsenal. You suppose you’re getting away with issues, however you’re not.”
The incident that modified Bradley’s life got here in late 2003. Having been suggested to purchase an costly watch as an funding, he began sporting it on nights out round London.
“You get caught up in that life-style,” Bradley says. “And the flawed folks seen. I went out for dinner with some team-mates. Inside a minute of coming dwelling, the door was getting kicked in. They put a gun to my head. One was saying: ‘Shoot him, shoot him.’ And the opposite stabbed me; 3 times. That’s all I bear in mind.”
Bradley was left unconscious on the ground of his home. Thankfully, his team-mates Larsson, Stephen O’Donnell and Patrick Cregg quickly arrived, and he was rushed to hospital.
“The surgeon stated with the blood I used to be shedding, I’d not have made it if that they had not been there,” Bradley says. “He stated: ‘You had been millimetres away from the knife piercing your mind, which might have killed you. While you defended your self, the knife went round, slightly than down. They will need to have been kicking you if you had been out chilly.’
“I had two damaged ribs on both sides. The watch was gone.”
Earlier than the assault, it was already clear that Bradley would depart Arsenal. A possible transfer to Fulham was now off. As an alternative it was again to Dublin.
“Arsenal did assist me,” he says. “Liam helped me. However I used to be offended at soccer, offended at everybody. I might play no bodily soccer for nearly a yr. I knew I wanted to be dwelling, round my mam and my household. I actually needed to do some soul-searching and discover myself once more.”
As soon as Bradley was bodily prepared, Brady helped organise a summer time 2004 transfer to the Scottish crew Dunfermline. He quickly returned to Eire at Drogheda United, successful the 2005 FAI Cup and 2007 Premier Division title.
The actual homecoming got here in March 2009, when Bradley joined Shamrock Rovers. 4 years after the membership nearly disappeared fully till 400 followers dipped into their very own wallets to put it aside, Rovers had been opening a brand new stadium in Tallaght, only a 10-minute stroll from his household dwelling.
“You possibly can really feel the power that night time was completely different,” Bradley remembers. “Individuals had been ready so lengthy; had fought a lot.”
Bradley performed 63 video games over two years at Rovers, together with two Europa League qualifying legs towards Juventus in summer time 2010. After spells with St Patrick’s Athletic and Limerick, he retired aged simply 28, having already determined his future was in administration.
“I felt I’d by no means attain my potential as a participant,” he says. “And I used to be at peace with that. Whereas I used to be nonetheless enjoying, I took notes on the whole lot — coaching, crew talks, opposition groups, even Champions Leagues video games and worldwide tournaments.”
Initially, he mixed a youth-coach job at Rovers with scouting for Arsenal, working with Steve Rowley, Brian McDermott and Francis Cagigao, writing detailed reviews on potential signings.
“I had an affect on signings like Granit Xhaka, Gabriel (Magalhaes) and (Gabriel) Martinelli.” Bradley says. “I additionally favored (Wilfred) Ndidi, (Manuel) Akanji and (Nathan) Ake. I actually favored (Virgil) van Dijk when he was at Celtic, however they weren’t certain how fast he was.”
Arsenal talked to Bradley a couple of extra senior European scouting function, however accepted his departure to grow to be Rovers’ supervisor in July 2016, on the age of 31. The membership had a brand new stadium however no coaching floor, and most of their gamers had been nonetheless part-time. Together with new sporting director Stephen McPhail, the previous Leeds midfielder, Bradley got down to “change the entire mentality, from boardroom degree down”.
In 2019, Bradley guided Rovers to a primary FAI Cup win since 1987, successful a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw with Dundalk. Rovers’ goalscorer in regular time was Aaron McEneff, who had been at Tottenham as a teen. Scorers within the shoot-out included Jack Byrne, who starred for Manchester Metropolis Below-18s however by no means reached the Premier League, and Gary O’Neill, who had been at Wolves, Port Vale, Southport and Hereford earlier than returning to Eire.
The previous Man Metropolis academy participant Jack Byrne lifts the trophy (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile by way of Getty Photographs)
“Irish gamers had been going to England too younger,” Bradley says. “And most had been coming dwelling damaged, hating soccer. I do know — I used to be certainly one of them. I bear in mind saying: ‘After I’m a supervisor that’ll be my primary factor.’ In case you mounted the individual, you’d get the participant.”
In 2020, Rovers received their 18th league title, starting a ‘4 in a row’ run matching their historic achievement within the Eighties. Among the many gamers to have contributed are present Eire senior internationals Liam Scales, now of Celtic, and Gavin Bazunu, now at Southampton and probably the most high-profile graduate of Rovers’ new academy at Kingswood.
“After I was rising up, 5 minutes’ drive from right here, you performed schoolboys’ soccer, you then went to England,” Bradley says. “Now you may progress right here from seven years of age to the primary crew. We’ve had gamers who turned down strikes to England after they had been younger, trusted us and got here right here.”
In June 2022, Bradley’s son Josh, then eight years previous, was recognized with acute lymphocytic leukemia. The subsequent dwelling recreation was a 1-0 victory over metropolis rivals Bohemians.
“I bear in mind telling the gamers beforehand that what we’re doing is larger than 90 minutes,” Bradley says. “I appeared across the dressing room and 5 – 6 folks had been crying. I used to be crying. However the gamers actually appreciated me being so open with them.
“They had been unimaginable that night time. Josh got here into the dressing room afterwards. All of them gave him a hug. It was a particular second.”
Typically Bradley would handle the crew within the night, then the next morning carry his son for chemotherapy at Crumlin hospital in Dublin.
When Rovers received the LOI title in October 2022, Josh left hospital to assist captain Ronan Finn raise the trophy.
The most effective Irish sporting moments of 2022. Josh Bradley – who was recognized with leukaemia in June – lifts the League of Eire trophy alongside his dad and the triumphant Shamrock Rovers squad. 💚pic.twitter.com/7cDx6RtWfL
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 30, 2022
“The hospital didn’t suppose Josh’d be capable of go away the mattress, however he wished to go that night time,” Bradley says. “These moments, that 5-10 minutes of reduction, made all of it worthwhile.
“Proper now he’s doing nice. When he’s not in remedy, he’s again enjoying soccer along with his mates. Quite a lot of households put their life on maintain for 2 or three years (after a most cancers analysis). However we had been adamant that was not going to be the case. Hopefully we solely have a number of extra months of the remedy, after which we’re completed.”
Bradley along with his son Josh at a recreation in 2023 (Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile by way of Getty Photographs)
Firmly established as Eire’s strongest crew, Rovers’ subsequent problem was Europe.
They reached the 2022-23 Europa League group stage, however managed solely two factors from six video games. Final season’s marketing campaign ended early after a 6-0 mixture play-off defeat by Hungary’s Ferencvaros.
This summer time they beat Vikingur Reykjavik within the Champions League qualifiers, then fell to Sparta Prague. Within the Europa League they eradicated Slovenians NK Celje 3-2, however misplaced towards PAOK Salonika. That also meant qualification for the Convention League group phases.
One other problem is the League of Eire season working from February to November. A deal with Europe contributed to Rovers shedding this yr’s title race to fellow Dublin aspect Shelbourne, who’re managed by the previous Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and Newcastle United winger Damien Duff.
Within the Convention League desk, a gap attract Tallaght with APOEL Nicosia was adopted by wins over Northern Eire’s Larne FC and New Saints of Wales. Then there was a gritty draw at Fast Vienna and final week’s emphatic 3-0 win towards the Bosnian champions Borac Banja Luka. That meant an Irish crew certified from a European competitors group stage for the primary time.
(Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile by way of Getty Photographs)
“We’ve been off for a month competitively, however the gamers’ mindset and perspective has been good,” Bradley says. “Perhaps I didn’t suppose we’d get 11 factors by now, however our purpose was to qualify for the knockout phases. We’ve gone and executed that, which is unbelievable.”
Many Rovers gamers had blended experiences in England. Midfielder Dylan Watts joined Rovers on a free switch from Leicester Metropolis. Centre-back Daniel Cleary was at Liverpool as a teen. Bradley has blended them in his squad with worldwide signings, similar to Estonian worldwide midfielder Markus Poom — son of former Derby County, Sunderland and Arsenal goalkeeper Mart — and German ‘keeper Leon Pohls.
The star towards Borac was 21-year-old striker Johnny Kenny, who scored two to make it 5 objectives in 5 video games within the Convention League, and 20 in 38 video games this season. Kenny is on mortgage from Celtic, the place he has struggled to make an affect since becoming a member of aged 18.
Cool. Calm. Composed. 🌟#RoversInEurope pic.twitter.com/2Hgtoi4YsE
— Shamrock Rovers FC (@ShamrockRovers) December 14, 2024
“When Johnny got here in right here, he was in a very robust, darkish place,” Bradley says. “I bear in mind pondering: ‘I can see myself in him; he wants assist as an individual.’ Now you might be seeing his potential. It was about getting him into an surroundings and a tradition the place he feels secure and joyful.”
Thursday’s recreation at Chelsea is a large event for everybody at Rovers. Amongst their 3,000 supporters at Stamford Bridge will probably be most of the 400 whose private contributions saved the membership in 2005. A blended possession mannequin now sees businessmen Ray Wilson and Dermot Desmond (additionally a Celtic shareholder) proudly owning 25 per cent every.
This season’s European exploits will earn Rovers greater than €7million — an enormous windfall by League of Eire requirements. Nonetheless final season noticed €2.3m losses after exiting Europe early, that means shareholders needed to fund working prices at first of this yr.
Bradley needs to see “alignment” between the followers’ representatives and rich shareholders, to make sure the membership retains investing in gamers and services. He doesn’t conceal his personal private future ambitions, whereas additionally remembering the debt he and his household owe Rovers and their supporters.
“I owe these followers a lot,” he says. “We’ve got to maintain pushing and getting higher yearly, on and off the pitch. I’d prefer to handle on the highest degree and actually check myself.
“However Josh’s remedy is primary. After that, what will probably be will probably be.”
(Getty Photographs)