TORONTO — Four years ago, with Michael Bradley’s contract expiring at the end of the season, Toronto FC supporters made their feeling known by hoisting a giant banner honouring him in the south stand of BMO Field.
Underneath the tifo, which showed Bradley applauding the fans, a smaller banner read “Your City. Your Legacy. Our Captain Forever.”
Bradley, who would sign a new deal some three months later, had kept his contract negotiations under wraps to avoid distractions.
The 36-year-old midfielder went to the same playbook in announcing Tuesday he is retiring after TFC’s season finale Saturday against visiting Orlando City.
No fanfare. Just a simple Instagram post, showing Bradley as a boy kicking a soccer ball. “A dream come true. Thank you, for everything. MB.” read the caption.
A release from the club soon followed.
“For the last 10 years I have spilled my blood, sweat and tears trying to help this club be the best it could be,” Bradley said in the statement. “There were some incredible days — moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life — and some bad ones too. But I never stopped giving everything I had.
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and everyone inside the club. Thank you to the fans for the unforgettable nights at BMO Field. This city and this club will always be home.”
Bradley has operated under the radar most of the season and was rarely available to discuss his future as the club, currently languishing at the bottom of the MLS standings at 4-19-10. He underwent surgery on his hamstring in May and did not return to action until August. In the meantime his father, Bob Bradley, was fired as head coach and sporting director.
In his 10 seasons in Toronto, Michael Bradley was the club’s undisputed leader and alpha dog.
“He sets the standard for everybody down in that locker-room as to what it should look like when you come to work every single day,” then-Toronto coach Greg Vanney said in November 2019 on the eve of Bradley’s 200th game for Toronto.
Bradley was the first out on the pitch before every game, to inspect the turf. During warm-ups, he was soccer’s equivalent to Tony Robbins, clapping his hands and talking to his teammates.
His departure is likely the first of many as new coach John Herdman picks among the roster wreckage of the once-proud franchise.
Herdman praised Bradley last week, but also signalled change could be coming.
“He knows the respect I have for him,’ Herdman said. “He knows that I think…