Union's Curtin knows all about Bradley's coaching skills

TORONTO — Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin knows all about Bob Bradley's ability to work with young players. He was once one of them.

Bradley, then in charge of the Chicago Fire, drafted a 21-year-old Curtin in the third round (29th overall) of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft.

"I learned a lot from Bob, as a player. I learned a lot as a coach," said Curtin, whose league-leading team takes on Bradley's Toronto FC on Saturday at BMO Field. "It's an honour to coach against him."

"Bob's an incredible coach. He's an incredible leader and he's a winner," he added.

Curtin is already impressed in what he has seen of Toronto under the 64-year-old Bradley.

"You can see right now the way that they play they're very dangerous. They're really all comfortable and good on the ball," he said. "You see a lot of Bob's ideas and he's actually giving young players an opportunity. He doesn't get brought up enough as a guy who is willing to give young players a chance.

"He did it in Chicago when I was there as a player with DaMarcus Beasley and Carlos Bocanegra. He has real belief and trust in young players. There's no better coach to develop young talent. And you see with Toronto a lot of good young homegrowns, a lot of real potential on the field in guys that are playing big minutes for them."

Bradley, for his part, remembers Curtin as a "smart player and a very good guy."

"I'm not surprised to see him move into coaching and doing really well, because (of) his understanding of the game … I'm proud of him."

And Bradley is relishing the chance to test his young team against Curtin and high-flying Philadelphia (5-0-1). Toronto (2-2-2) is unbeaten in its last three games (2-0-1) and has won its last two home outings.

"If you look at the first six