Former St Louis City SC coach Bradley Carnell has shared the risky venture he undertook, defying advice from many.
When St Louis embarked on an international search for a head coach who aligned with their vision, Carnell emerged as the top candidate. His hands-on approach, proven success, and passion for developing young talent were key factors in his selection.
Carnell’s overseas coaching journey began in 2017 as an assistant coach for the New York Red Bulls. He stepped into the interim head coach role in 2020 before being appointed as the inaugural head coach of St. Louis City SC in 2022.
“Setting up the franchise in American pro sports. Everybody advised me not to do it, and everyone said it’s the hardest job in American sports to set up an expansion team,” Carnell told FARPost.
Despite the warnings, The former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Carnell took on the challenge, tasked with not only coaching the team but also building the playing squad and technical staff from scratch.
HOW BRADLEY CARNELL BUILT ST LOUIS CITY
Working alongside St. Louis’s sporting director, Lutz Pfannenstiel, Carnell set out to create a unique product that resonated with the city. St. Louis boasts a rich sports history with three major league teams, including the football outfit.
The St. Louis Cardinals, one of baseball’s oldest franchises, have clinched 11 World Series titles, second only to the New York Yankees. The St. Louis Blues, a hockey powerhouse, captured the 2019 Stanley Cup and have a storied past, including three Stanley Cup Finals appearances and an impressive 25-year playoff streak from 1979 to 2004.
To expedite the team’s development, Carnell and his team strategically placed players in the MLS Next Pro League, a developmental league, allowing them to gain experience and prepare for the future.
“Setting up a team we were able to set up a team one year early. We started the team in 2022 and worked in the development sort of the second division here. If you still call it, you know, they call it the MLS next pro. So we could get guys on our roster. We could start planning for the future.”
On October 1, 2023, St. Louis City, SC, won the Western Conference in their first year as a franchise and would also qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
However, the team struggled in the second season, leading to Carnell’s axing.
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