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This combination file photo shows Francesco Guidolin (top) and Bob Bradley.[/caption]LONDON — Bob Bradley became the first American manager in the Premier League after being hired by Swansea Monday, finally landing the opportunity in a major European competition he had been chasing.
Swansea announced the hiring of the former US national team coach while saying it had fired Francesco Guidolin. The Italian coach has only been at the south Wales club since January but has lost his job after the team opened the season by winning only one of its seven league matches.
Swansea swiftly secured the release of Bradley from French second-tier club Le Havre, which he has been coaching since leaving Norwegian side Stabaek last year.
Bradley called the Swansea job "a unique opportunity" in a parting message on Le Havre's website.
"He is highly regarded as a coach and has a wealth of experience on the international and domestic front," Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said. "He is well aware of the club's footballing philosophy and will provide us with strong leadership qualities and a renewed belief to compete at this level.
"It is never easy changing managers, but we are looking at a long-term appointment and we are confident Bob can settle us down and stabilize matters on and off the pitch."
Bradley's coaching reputation grew after the 2009 Confederations Cup, where the Americans beat European champion Spain en route to the final. The US team followed it up by reaching the second round at the 2014 World Cup.
After being fired by the US, Bradley took on the challenging task for managing Egypt through the Arab Spring uprising.
The "American Pharaoh" — as he became known — gained admiration there by sticking with the job even as Egypt was being shaken by deadly fan disorder, part of the wider anarchy in a nation going through violent street protests and bloody security crackdowns.
Bradley left Egypt after failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and moved to Stabaek, which he left after securing qualification for the Europa League.
In an interview with the Associated Press last year, Bradley spoke of his frustration that he was overlooked for jobs in major European leagues.
"I think that in many cases decision-makers play it safe," Bradley said last year. "There's certainly a network. There are still a lot of good managers. There are also a lot of bad managers. It's not to say that sometimes you don't shake your head at how certain guys keep popping up in jobs."
He impressed in his next job in France, where Le Havre only missed out on promotion to the top league in May on goal difference.
Like Le Havre, Bradley will be working under American ownership in Swansea. Steve Kaplan, a minority owner and executive vice chairman of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, and Jason Levien, a part-owner of Major League Soccer's DC United, took control of Swansea in July.
Bradley is not the only American manager in English soccer. David Wagner has started the League Championship season at Huddersfield by winning eight out of 11 games, taking the northern English team to top spot in the second tier.
Troubled Villa sacks Di Matteo
Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by Aston Villa Monday after just 12 matches in charge of the troubled Championship club.
Di Matteo was hired by Villa's new Chinese owner Tony Xia in June and the former Chelsea boss was expected to lead his side into the Premier League.
Villa is playing in the second tier for the first time since 1988 following last season's relegation, but it has struggled to show any improvement under Di Matteo despite splashing out on several expensive new signings.
Saturday's woeful 2-0 defeat at Preston, which ended with Villa booed off by their furious fans, proved the final straw and 48 hours later the Italian's 124-day reign was over.
