AMSTERDAM – Tippeligaen title chasers Stabaek have begun contract extensions talk with manager Bob Bradley, MLSsoccer.com has learned.
The New Jersey native is nearing the stretch run of his second season in charge at Nadderud Stadion, with Stabaek surprisingly sitting in second place with just 11 games left in the season. Bradley has drawn rave reviews for his work in Norway, drawing plenty of interest from other European clubs looking for a new manager.
For now, however, the Blues are cautiously hopeful he will sign an extension instead of letting his contract expire at season's end.
"We started up a process in early July and Bob was positive to discussing it," Stabæk technical director Inge Andre Olsen told MLSsoccer.com. "Of course, we also know he can get offers from other places."
According to another source close to the situation, for the moment, it seems more likely than not that the former US national team coach will still be at Stabaek come 2016. The source told MLSsoccer.com that the club's board believes Bradley and his side are capable of overcoming a seven-point first-place deficit if they can defeat table toppers Rosenborg in an away derby on Sept. 13.
If he becomes the first American to win a European top flight crown, he would also be in line to become the first American to manage a Champions League contest – all of which sounds just fine to Stabaek.
"The team has grown every game," said Olsen. "We now have a strong team that can compete at the top level in Norway and we want to continue that with him."
Since arriving in Norway after a run managing the Egyptian national team, Bradley has compiled a 22-16-11 record in league play. He has also led Stabaek to nine wins in 10 NM Cupen matches, with the team set to shoot for back-to-back final four appearances in Thursday night's quarterfinal tilt at Sandefjord.
