Monday 3 October 2016 21:38, UK
Former USA international goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes new Swansea head coach Bob Bradley has “all the tools” to be a success in the Premier League.
The 58-year-old Bradley replaces Italian Francesco Guidolin, who became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season after being sacked following nine months in charge.
Bradley, a former United States national team manager, comes in from French club Le Havre with Swansea 17th in the table and without a win since victory at Burnley on the opening day.
Bradley becomes the first American to manage in the Premier League and Friedel is convinced his compatriot has the necessary qualities to succeed with the Welsh club.
"This is probably the biggest job an American has ever taken on with the exception of being your head coach for your national team," Friedel told Sky Sports News HQ.
"All credit to the hard work he has put in to get to the Premier League but now more hard work starts and I really wish him the best.
"I hope he is going to be a success. Does he have all the tools required to be a success? Yes.
"But we all know how difficult it is, how quickly games can change and how results can go but he has every chance to be a success."
Bradley is also a former head coach of the Egyptian national team and has managed in Norway with Stabæk.
Friedel admires the hard work Bradley has put in to put himself in a position to take over Swansea and feels the opportunity is coming at a good time in his career.
"He is a very, very bright manager and he is an attention-to-detail kind of guy," Friedel said. "He will have no problem being hard-fisted but he will also be compassionate behind closed doors with his players.
"I have got to give a lot of credit to Bob. He has gone over to Norway and really tried to carve out a name for himself in Europe and then he was in France with Le Havre.
"He nearly got promotion last year to Ligue 1 and he has worked really hard so I am delighted for him that he is getting this opportunity."
