Fittingly, Bradley's breakout performance came against the toughest opponent: Brazilian megastars Kaká (7) and Ronaldinho. Andy Mead/Icon SMI

These days father and son will dissect replays of Heerenveen games together over the phone, Bob offering insights from the family's home in California while Michael adds his perspective from the apartment next to the soccer stadium in Holland.

"These are all things we've shared together that have been some of the best parts of my life," says Michael. "I speak to him every day about everything: things in life, what's going on in soccer, how my training was today. He's the first person I'll call after a game."

They've certainly had a lot to talk about lately. After winning a spot in Heerenveen's starting XI this season, Bradley has scored four goals in nine games for a team that has been all over the map so far performance-wise.

Take last week: On Thursday, Heerenveen got knocked out of the UEFA Cup with a 5-1 second-leg loss at Sweden's Helsingborg but came back over the weekend to thrash Heracles Almelo 9-0 to improve its record to 2-3-2 in the Eredivisie. (For some of Bradley's recent highlights, check out this U.S. Soccer Blog.)

"The results haven't all been what we've wanted so far," Bradley says, "especially in the league where we've let some games slip away where we've played well but given up some soft goals. But the feeling on the team is very positive."

Bradley plays more or less the same position with Heerenveen -- holding midfield -- that he does with the U.S. team. But he acknowledges that he's able to move forward more often in Holland, which has allowed him to be more of a goal-scoring threat this season.

"With the national team at times it's my responsibility to make sure our different attacking guys -- Landon [Donovan], DaMarcus [Beasley], Clint Dempsey -- all have the freedom to do the things they're good at going forward," Bradley says.

"So that means at times I have to be the one to be more disciplined and play in front of defenders a little more and break plays up and bring different people into the game from that position. Whereas here at times there's a little bit more freedom to be a guy who's a two-way player going up and down the field, defensively taking care of things and winning tackles but at the same time getting forward to support the attack and get goals."

2 of 3