From England to Milwaukee, the Wave's Alex Bradley always evolving on field, in 'rat race'

Milwaukee Wave veteran Alex Bradley will do a little bit of everything.

The 31-year-old Englishman will help control the pace of the game from his relatively new position as a defender. He’ll also score goals.

Or he can drive you across town. Maybe sell you a pair of shoes on eBay.

He would like to rent you an apartment, although that opportunity might be a year off.

No, this isn’t exactly the life Bradley imagined while growing up in the soccer-mad UK, playing for academy teams, scrapping to be that one-in-ten-thousand prospect who made it to the Premier League.

But it is a situation in which he has become completely comfortable, one that has allowed him to earn a paycheck in the game he loves while also developing a passion finding the next opportunity.

“I kind of fell in love with the lifestyle a little bit here,” said Bradley, who first came to the U.S. to pursue college soccer.

“I was close to making it – in quotes – when I was in England. Played semipro level, academy, growing up.”

But close and making it can still be miles apart.

“It’s difficult to make it as a pro in the U.S., but I would argue in England it’s a lot more difficult,” Bradley continued. “Because it’s the No. 1 sport. Every kid is trying to play soccer. Over here you’ve got kids trying to play American football or baseball or basketball.

“Let’s put it this way. I played academy growing up. One kid I played with plays in the Premier League now, out of how many kids I played with or against over the years, so it shows how difficult it is.”

So began the journey from Milton Keynes to Milwaukee.

With an aunt having settled in Dubuque, Iowa, years earlier, an 18-year-old Bradley came to check out the U.S. and college opportunities.

Loras College, a Division III power in Dubuque, turned out to be a good fit. The DuHawks made two final fours and one championship game during Bradley’s time, he became a coaches’ association all-American as a senior in 2016 and was on the program’s all-time top-10 list in points and assists by the time he was done.

After his rookie MASL season with Cedar Rapids, Bradley joined the Wave in time for its 2018-19 championship season.

By that point, his soccer lot was cast for better or worse. The major leagues don’t look to the indoor game for talent, and it turned out that would be just fine.

“Someone warned me of this as well, my first year of playing in the MASL: You kind of get – and I don’t want to use the word, but … – ‘abducted’ by indoor,” Bradley said.

“The MASL, you’re making good money for six months and then for the rest of the year work on other stuff. But if you go to outdoor, you’re committing 10 or 11 months. It’s a complete lifestyle takeover and less opportunity to earn money other ways. I enjoy working for myself, enjoy driving a little bit of Lyft on the side. My schedule just works right now with everything I do.”

The Wave’s 2023-24 season opens with road games Friday against the St. Louis Ambush and Sunday against the Kansas City Comets before the home opener Dec. 9 against Monterrey Flash at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

In addition to bringing back such players as Bradley, popular veterans Ian Bennett and Marcio Leite and 2022-23 goalkeeper William Banahene, the Wave added a few free agents, most notably forward Ricardo Carvalho, who has averaged 1.7 points a game over eight seasons in the MASL.

Bradley was the team’s most durable player last season, the only one to play in all 24 regular-season and five playoff games as the Wave won the Eastern Conference title before falling to the Baltimore Blast in the semifinals.

In fitting with his life off the field, Bradley also has become one of the organization’s most adaptable players.

“We won a championship, Alex Bradley was a target forward for our team, and now he’s kind of one of our leaders from the defensive side of the ball,” coach Giuliano Oliviero said. “This (indoor) game, you’ve got to be able to attack, you’ve got to be able to defend.

“So positionally I don’t think it’s fazed him. He still gets to attack, he still gets his points, he’s got a really great left foot. And just having his experience really helps us.”

Bradley recently was granted an extension of his permanent residence status. He hopes the next extension will be of the 10-year variety. That’d help with his next goal for the “rat race” Bradley has come to enjoy.

“Seeing how many income streams I can create … my end goal is to get into real estate and be a landlord,” Bradley said. “Hopefully I can make some good steps this year.”

Ironically, for a guy who loves a side hustle, Bradley is one of the few players on the Wave who isn’t involved in coaching soccer, whether with one of the local clubs or for the Wave youth camps.

“I drive Lyft before I come to practice, drive the work rush in the morning and sometimes I log on in the afternoon for a few hours. It’s very much part time,” Bradley said. “I have an eBay business that I’ve run since college and it’s kind of another part-time thing that doesn’t take a lot of work. I resell shoes and clothes and stuff. It’s been fun learning what works and what doesn’t.

“Always looking for opportunities.”

Milwaukee Wave 2023-24 schedule

Nov. 24: at St. Louis

Nov. 26: at Kansas City

Dec. 9: vs. Monterrey, 6:05 p.m.

Dec. 15: vs. St. Louis, 6:35 p.m.

Dec. 28: at Dallas

Dec. 30: at Texas

Jan 4: vs. Utica City, 6:35 p.m.

Jan. 7: vs. Harrisburg, 2:05 p.m.

Jan. 12: at St. Louis

Jan. 13: vs. Dallas, 6:05 p.m.

Jan 21: vs. Dallas, 1:05 p.m.

Jan. 23: at Monterrey

Jan. 25: at Texas

Jan. 28: vs. Monterrey, 12:05 p.m.

Feb. 3: vs. Harrisburg, 6:05 p.m.

Feb. 16: vs. St. Louis, 6:35 p.m.

Feb. 18: at Utica City

Feb. 25: at St. Louis

March 2: at Baltimore

March 8: vs. Utica City, 6:35 p.m.

March 10: vs. St. Louis, 1:05 p.m.

March 17: at Dallas

March 22: vs. San Diego, 6:35 p.m.

March 24: at Monterrey

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Wave's Alex Bradley from England evolves in soccer, life