Bradley Wright-phillips: US king
BWP opens up on his path from the lower leagues to breaking MLS records. Even Sarah Jessica Parker’s a fan...
How did your 2013 transfer to New York Red Bulls come about?
I was out of contract at Charlton and my agent – the same guy who looked after Thierry Henry – said that Andy Roxburgh [Red Bulls’ sporting director at the time] was interested in seeing me train and seeing what I was like fitness-wise. At first, I wasn’t too sure about moving to a different country. I didn’t know very much about MLS.
Did you think MLS was substandard? I feel that English players have always been ignorant towards other leagues. We’re all told that English football is where everyone wants to be. But there are many other leagues where you can make a good career for yourself. From day one, I loved it in MLS. The training facilities were good, the locker room was a really nice environment, and the standard was much, much higher than I thought it would be. It only surprised me because of that ignorance – most players in England would rather play in League Two than MLS. When I arrived, I couldn’t believe I’d been one of them.
How do you look back on your time in England? Any regrets?
No. I was just young and enjoying being a footballer. Sometimes it would go well for me, sometimes it wouldn’t, because I wasn’t really putting my head down to work. Only when I went over to the US did I get serious and start to question what I wanted to get out of this game. You’ve ended up as the all-time top goalscoring European in MLS history. You cannot have seen that coming...? The first half-season was tough, getting to know a brand new environment, but once I’d had my first pre-season with Red Bulls [in 2014], everything improved quickly. Being so far away from home, with all the distractions that it brought, was good for me, too. I could only think about football, and that helped. I found a club I was very comfortable at. People believed in me, and that’s an amazing feeling as a footballer. The goals flowed as a result of that feeling. When I was younger, I wanted to try being a No.10 or something, but in MLS I stuck to my strengths as a forward and it’s worked out really well so far. Who’s the best player you’ve played with during your time in MLS? Obviously Thierry Henry was a massive influence on me. He let me know early on that the league isn’t so easy. When I’d only just arrived and wasn’t ready to play, I asked Thierry, “We’ve got you, Tim Cahill and others – why aren’t we winning this game easily?” He told me, “You’ll see. It’s not easy as you think.” I outscored him, which people always mention, but that wasn’t his role in the team. He said to me, “Make a run and I’ll pick you out.” People remember him from his Arsenal days just scoring goals, and think that’s all there is to him, but he’s an amazing No.10 – ridiculous. He wasn’t only about scoring goals; he was doing it for the team.
Over the years, have you ever been tempted to move back to Europe? Every pre-season, I’d get a call asking me about a loan or a move to England, or other places. It didn’t interest me – I was just too happy. I love the Premier League – it’s the best league ever – but there’s a lot of politics over there. Life in England can be very complicated at times, with all of the scrutiny. Here, it’s perfect. I could have gone to England and played for a side low in the Premier League, in the Championship or high in League One, but I wouldn’t have the brand that I do here. There are a million Bradley Wright-phillipses in England who could leave, have a couple of good seasons and go from there. At Red Bulls, my name is on the wall. When I retire, I can work in TV. I couldn’t in England.
Your brother, Shaun, joined you at the club between 2015 and 2016. What was it like playing with him again? Shaun was getting older then, and we had a young philosophy at the club. He actually came to the US for a wedding and just said to me that he wouldn’t mind playing for Red Bulls, so I asked the coach if he could come and train. I knew that once they saw him train, they’d think, ‘We could use him, even if he doesn’t play every week’. He still had the touch and experience to pass on. It was fun to play with him again – it’s a shame things didn’t last longer.
What has living in New York been like? I’ve been living out in New Jersey, as New York City is just too much. I came to the US to focus on my football, so I stayed away from the city. I’m not really a celebrity but people know who I am and what I’ve done – I see my shirt around. But it’s not like a Premier League player, who will get mobbed.
Have you had any famous fans?
It’s crazy how popular it’s been getting. Sarah Jessica Parker came to a match not long ago, and NFL players will come to watch all the time. It’s been strange, getting used to it, especially after I was playing in the lower leagues in England. You’re 34 now – what’s next for you once you finish playing?
I want to stay in the US, but I’m not sure if coaching is the way forward for me. If there comes a time when I’ve got to pay the bills, then I may learn my trade. Scouting might suit me better, as I love watching match after match. I’d love to stay at Red Bulls in some role – they’ll have to kick me out. I wouldn’t mind getting into TV. I like it. When I’ve done interviews, like this one, I’ve loved it!