LONDON -- Bob Bradley persevered in Egypt through a violent uprising, exceled in Norway with limited resources and dropped into Frances second tier league to further prove his coaching credentials.Throughout the arduous journey after leading the United States at the 2010 World Cup, Bradley remained fixed on the ultimate goal -- a job in a top European league.Now, after years of setbacks and rejections, the 58-year-old Bradley has arrived in the richest soccer league of all after landing a job with Swansea City on Monday.The Premier League has had 21 different nationalities managing its teams, but Bradley is the first American after replacing the fired Francesco Guidolin in south Wales.Bob is extraordinarily intelligent about the game, his work ethic is second to none, and the way he manages teams and deals with people are all outstanding, U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati told The Associated Press on Monday.You need a number of things to go right to get an opportunity like this (in the Premier League) and to break through if you are not in the regular circle of coaches that are considered for such opportunities.As the years rolled by, Bradley grew frustrated that he was interviewed for such opportunities in elite leagues but then overlooked for more established European names.In many cases decision-makers play it safe, Bradley told the AP last year while completing his second season with Norwegian club Stabaek. Theres certainly a network. There are still a lot of good managers. There are also a lot of bad managers. Its not to say that sometimes you dont shake your head at how certain guys keep popping up in jobs.Bradleys early career developed out of the limelight. Never a professional player, the New Jersey native gained his early managerial experience in college soccer. He coached Princeton University, became an assistant with Major League Soccers D.C. United in 1996, then led the Chicago Fire, MetroStars and Chivas USA teams before landing the U.S. national team job in 2006.The world was soon taking notice, particularly at the 2009 Confederations Cup where the Americans ended then-European champion Spains 35-match winning streak en route to the final.Bradleys reputation grew and the U.S. won a 2010 World Cup group, which included England, before going out in the second round.After being fired by U.S. Soccers Gulati in 2011, Bradley sought a new challenge. It was one of the most daunting in world soccer, taking charge of Egypt in the midst of 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 departed after securing qualification for the Europa League last year. He impressed in his next job too, in France, where Le Havre only missed out on promotion to the top division in May on goal difference.Bradley called the Swansea job a unique opportunity in a parting message on Le Havres website.I know its the exposure Ive enjoyed at the club that has given me the opportunity to coach a Premier League team, he said.Bradley is swapping one for small port city for another. Like at Le Havre, Bradley will be working under American ownership in Swansea, a former industrial city with a population of less than 250,000. Steve Kaplan, a minority owner and executive vice chairman of the NBAs Memphis Grizzlies, and Jason Levien, a part-owner of D.C. United, took control of Swansea in July.With Swansea winning only one of its opening seven league matches, the owners felt compelled to act. Guidolin, who has only been at the south Wales club since January, became the first manager to be fired in the Premier League this season -- and on his 61st birthday.After the two-week international break, Bradley faces a daunting first game in charge: a trip to Arsene Wengers Arsenal on Oct. 15.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 clubs 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 is not the only American manager in English soccer. David Wagner has started the second-tier League Championship season at Huddersfield by winning eight out of 11 games, taking the northern English team to top spot in the division.---Rob Harris is at www.twitter.com/RobHarris and www.facebook.com/RobHarrisReports Rod Woodson Steelers Jersey . The Redskins announced Monday that the quarterback who led the team to the Super Bowl championship in the 1987 season will serve as a personnel executive. Carnell Lake Steelers Jersey . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Mel-Blount-Jersey/ . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Devin Bush Steelers Jersey . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Benny Snell Jr. Jersey . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. John Wall and the Washington Wizards spawned nightmares for the Orlando Magic the last three years.The two division rivals play each other four times each season and each time the Washington Wizards have come out on top. The Wizards have beaten the Magic in every way imaginable, it seems, in that stretch.Some of that is understandable of course. The Magic were a rebuilding team with young players not quite ready to win and far out of the playoff race. And the Wizards were a team thinking about advancing in the playoffs or just outside the playoff picture.They get their first crack at one of their primary torturers Saturday night at Amway Center in Orlando. It is a game players who have been on the Magic for multiple years know carries some importance.They beat the (heck) out of us the last two years, Magic guard Evan Fournier said after practice Friday. They always beat us the same way, playing physical, punking us. No way is it going to happen again tomorrow.Fournier and the Magic have suffered their bad beats to the Wizards. But confidence is at a high after gutting out two straight wins following a disappointing 0-3 start to the season.Slowly but surely the Magic are building a defensive identity and eking out wins with that defense and transition game.Against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, the Magic used energy from defensive plays by Bismack Biyombo and used a 16-point defensive fourth quarter to secure a win over the Sacramento Kings. It was the second straight game the Magic held an opponent to less than 20 points in the final quarter to pick up the win.That could spelll trouble for the Washington Wizards, who have struggled to score throughout the season.dddddddddddd The Wizards ranked 21st in the league in offensive rating, scoring 98.6 points per 100 possessions, entering Fridays 95-92 home win over the Atlanta Hawks. That is only slightly better than the Magic.Washington though knows it is better than it has played so far this season.We know were better than 0-3, Wizards guard Bradley Beal told The Washington Post. I feel like we should be 3-0 right now, but we gave up some tough games. The crazy thing is we know what were doing wrong. Its just a matter of us just doing it.The Wizards started to right the ship it seems with a 29-16 second quarter that gave them a lead large enough to hold onto in the second half Friday against the Hawks. Bradley Beal scored 28 points and John Wall scored 21, but the two combined to shoot 13 for 33 from the floor. The team shot 38.8 percent from the field overall.Wall is still one of the most dangerous players in the league, particularly in the open floor. And that gives them a chance.But the Wizards have lost their defensive edge -- their 112.1 points allowed per 100 possessions is the worst in the league entering Fridays action -- and they may have lost that physicality the Magic have struggled with for the last three years.Now it seems Orlando has all the momentum and a chance to fight back in this divisional series as the two teams meet at Amway Center in Orlando on Saturday. ' ' '