Bradley Wright Phillips (Forward)
2013 - 2019
Inducted on 1st April 2023 by Ronnie Piper
Dax McCarty was the inaugural inductee into the RBNY UK Rafters, on the 2nd March 2023. The Florida native played for the Red Bulls through the 2011 to 2016 season and was also captain for his last two seasons, including the 2015 Supporters Shield winning season.
He will forever be up in our rafters!
BWP's Story
On 24 July 2013, Wright-Phillips joined the New York Red Bulls. Despite joining the club in the latter part of the season Wright-Phillips was a contributor in helping New York capture its first major title, the MLS Supporters' Shield, playing seven regular season games and scoring once, the concluding goal in a 2–0 win against the Houston Dynamo at the BBVA Compass Stadium. On 6 November, he netted against the same opposition in the Eastern Conference semifinal, but his team were eliminated from the playoffs after extra time.
On 23 April 2014, Wright-Phillips scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win against the Dynamo. He secured his second hat-trick for New York on 10 May during a 5–4 home loss to the Chicago Fire. Of note, he scored the winner in a friendly against his father's former team Arsenal, and the equaliser against Bayern Munich in the 2014 MLS All-Star Game. Two days after the All-Star game, Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh claimed that Wright-Phillips' scoring exploits were producing international transfer interest in the player. On 23 August 2014, he scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season in a 4–2 win against Montreal Impact to surpass Juan Pablo Ángel's club record for goals scored in a single season, and on 20 September he returned from a short-term injury to record his third hat trick of the 2014 MLS season in a 4–1 win over Seattle Sounders FC. On 26 October 2014 Wright-Phillips scored twice to equal the Major League Soccer season goal record of 27 goals as New York beat Sporting Kansas City 2–0 in the league's regular-season finale.
Wright-Phillips again scored twice for the Red Bulls in their first match of the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, once again against Kansas City in a 2–1 victory. He scored his third play-off goal against D.C. United in the first leg of the 2014 MLS Eastern Conference semi-final, helping New York to a 2–0 victory. The Red Bulls got to the Eastern Conference Final against the New England Revolution. In the first leg Wright-Phillips recklessly encroached upon Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth on a throw, earning his second yellow of the playoffs. He had to miss the second, do-or-die leg in Foxborough, where the Red Bulls' season ended with a 2–2 tie losing the series 3–2 on aggregate thus missing MLS Cup Final.
Following his 2014 success, New York signed Wright-Phillips to a designated player contract for 2015. On 22 March 2015 Wright-Phillips scored his first goal of the season and assisted Lloyd Sam on another in a 2–0 victory over rival D.C. United at Red Bull Arena earning him MLS Player of the Week honors. The following week Wright-Phillips was selected to the MLS Team of the Week for his performance in a 2–1 victory over Columbus Crew in which he scored his second goal of the season and assisted on Mike Grella's game-winning goal. On 10 May, he scored both goals as the Red Bulls won 2–1 at home against New York City FC in the first Hudson River derby between the two franchises, and equalised in a 3–1 victory at the rivals' Yankee Stadium on 28 June. On 11 July, he helped New York to a 4–1 victory over New England Revolution, scoring twice during the match.
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On 1 August 2015, Wright-Phillips scored the opening goal in a 3–1 away victory over Philadelphia Union. He was assisted on the goal by his brother Shaun who was making his debut for New York. Eight days later he scored in his third New York derby of the season, opening a 2–0 home win. On 30 August, Wright-Phillips scored two goals in helping New York to a 3–0 victory over D.C. United. On 25 October Wright-Phillips scored the opening goal for New York in 2–1 victory over Chicago, helping Red Bulls clinch the 2015 MLS Supporters' Shield In the second leg of the Conference semi-finals against D.C. United in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, Wright-Phillips scored the only goal of the game in added time, and his team advanced 2–0 on aggregate.
On 24 April 2016, Wright-Phillips scored his first two goals of the season in helping New York come from behind to win 3–2 over Orlando City SC. Wright-Phillips scored two goals and assisted on another in a 7–0 win over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on 21 May.
In his 100th appearance with the club on 28 May, a 3–0 home win over Toronto FC, Wright-Phillips set an MLS record scoring a hat-trick in the first 27 minutes of the game; it was the fastest scored from the opening whistle in league history. A week later, he was named as the Etihad Player of the Month for May; recording six goals and two assists in May. With his 8th goal in 6 games against New York City FC; Wright-Phillips tied Juan Pablo Ángel for club's most goals all-time with 62. Wright-Phillips broke the all-time scoring record with his 63rd on 31 July against the Chicago Fire. Two weeks later he scored two goals against the Montreal Impact in a 3–1 victory; breaking another team record with 59 league goals. After scoring the second goal in a 2–2 draw against D.C. United, Wright-Phillips broke an MLS record by scoring the most league goals over a three-year span with 62 spanning from the 2014–2016 seasons. A record previously held by Chris Wondolowski from 2010–2012. With his 20th league goal in 2016, Wright-Phillips became the first player in league history to record two 20-plus goal seasons. On 23 October, Wright-Phillips captured his second MLS Golden Boot title in three years, beating cross town rival, David Villa by one goal.
On 22 February 2017, Wright-Phillips scored his first CONCACAF Champions League goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the quarterfinals. On 29 March, Wright-Phillips signed a new multi-year designated player contract with the club. On 18 June, Wright-Phillips scored two late goals to lead New York to a 2–0 victory over Philadelphia Union. On 13 July, Wright-Phillips scored his first 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup goal; a late winner to lead New York to a 1–0 victory over New England Revolution, advancing to the semifinals of the cup. One month later on 15 August, Wright-Phillips scored a brace against FC Cincinnati, including a goal in the 101st minute to send New York to their first Open Cup final since 2003. With his 15th goal of the season on 9 September, Wright-Phillips joined Robbie Keane as the only two players in MLS history to score 15 or more goals in four consecutive seasons. On 5 November, Wright-Phillips scored his 100th career goal for the New York Red Bulls in a 1–0 victory over Toronto FC.
On 1 March 2018, Wright-Phillips opened the scoring for New York in a 2–0 victory over Olimpia in the CONCACAF Champions League. With the victory New York advanced to the Champions League Quarterfinals for the second time in club history. On 6 March he scored two goals to lead New York to a 2–0 victory in Mexico over Club Tijuana in the CONCACAF Champions League. On 10 March 2018, he scored his first league goal in a 4–0 victory over Portland Timbers On 13 March 2018, Wright-Phillips assisted on all of New York's goals in a 3–1 victory over Club Tijuana in the CONCACAF Champions League, helping the club advance to semifinals of the Champions League for the first time. On 5 May 2018, Wright-Phillips added to his tally of goals against New York City FC, scoring his club's second goal in a 4–0 victory. On 25 July 2018, Wright-Phillips scored his 100th MLS goal in a 1–0 victory over D.C. United, surpassing Taylor Twellman as the fastest player in MLS history to score 100 goals. On 5 August, New York Red Bulls retired his No 99 jersey and announced that they will never issue it to another player after he retires.
Wright-Phillips made 29 appearances in all competitions during the 2019 season: 24 in Major League Soccer, four in the CONCACAF Champions League and one in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
He left the Red Bulls in November 2019 on the expiry of his contract, after six years with the club. Wright-Phillips, a two-time Golden Boot winner, scored 126 goals in 240 appearances for the Red Bulls. The club's sporting director, Denis Hamlett, described Wright-Phillips as "one of the best forwards in MLS history".
BWP'S RBNY HONOURS
2013
2015
2018