Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett and Bradley Wright-Phillips. (Photo courtesy of the Red Bulls)
HARRISON, N.J. – The Red Bulls signed forward Bradley Wright-Phillips to a one-day contract on Friday, allowing him to retire as a member of the team.
Following his retirement, BWP will step into his new role with the club as the special assistant to the sporting director.
“It wouldn’t have felt right retiring somewhere else, especially in America, it wouldn’t have felt right,” Wright-Phillips said in a statement. “I am honored to get the opportunity to retire here, it means a lot to me.”
Wright-Phillips will have an array of responsibilities, which include mentoring the younger players to help in their development and overall integrate himself in the sporting department to further his professional growth. He also will be an ambassador of the club on the front office side with community relations and content such as a co-host to the Lade Out podcast.
“There was no question in our minds to bring Brad back to the club following his retirement,” sporting director Denis Hamlett said in a statement. “The expansive experience that Brad brings from the field will be helpful in the development with our young players, while at the same time, Brad getting crucial experience on the sporting side for his own professional development.”
Wright-Phillips was one of the most decorated Red Bull players. He was a three-time MLS Supporters’ Shield Winner (2013, 2015, 2018), a two-time MLS Golden Boot winner (2014, 2016), a two-time MLS Best XI selection (2014, 2016), a Concacaf Best XI selection (2018), a two-time MLS All-Star (2014, 2018).
“I want to learn the other side of the game, almost start again like I was at the Academy to begin as a footballer,” Wright-Phillips said. “I want to start from the ground up and make an impact in this new role.”
During his six-plus year stint with the club, Wright-Philips made 195 regular-season appearances (164 starts) while scoring 108 goals – the most in club history – and providing 28 assists. During his time with the Red Bulls, the forward helped the club win three MLS Supporters’ Shields (2013, 2015, 2018) while being named the Red Bulls Most Valuable Player on three occasions (2014, 2017, 2018).
Wright-Phillips became the first player in MLS history to score 20 or more goals in three different seasons (2014, 2016, 2018), as well as the first player in League history to score 15 or more goals in five consecutive seasons (2014-2018). In addition to his MLS experience, the English forward also made 14 appearances in the Concacaf Champions League (all starts), scoring four goals and providing five assists for the Red Bulls.
Following free agency, Wright-Phillips had a stint with LAFC (2020) and Columbus Crew SC (2021). During 2020, Wright-Phillips made 18 regular-season appearances (14 starts) for Los Angeles FC, registering eight goals and six assists and was a recipient of the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award (2020). W
