Gordon Bradley

A former Carlisle United player who signed legendary players Pele, Johann Cruyff, Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer during his time in management in the United States has died at the age of 74.
Gordon Bradley played 129 times for Carlisle between 1957 and 1961 and was rated one of the finest wing halves to have turned out for the club.
He was born in Easington, near Hartlepool, and worked in the local pit before being signed by Sunderland.
But he never made a first-team appearance for Sunderland and was released after suffering a knee injury in training.
It took him two years to recover from the injury before playing for Blackhall CW and making 18 Football League appearances for Bradford Park Avenue before moving to Carlisle in 1957.
Bradley emigrated to Canada in 1963 with wife Vera and in 1971 became the first coach of the fledgling New York Cosmos, the following year guiding them to the North American Soccer League title.
By 1973 he was head coach of the US national side, but was sacked after six defeats. He was sacked by the Cosmos three years later, re-instated then replaced by ex-Workington Reds manager Ken Furphy.
Ironically it was again Furphy who replaced Gordon Bradley four years later when he was dismissed by the Washington Diplomats.
Until 2000 Bradley managed a successful university side, but had been suffering from Alzheimer’s up until his recent death.
It was a remarkable football career which saw him rise from humble beginnings to sign many of the world’s most famous footballers.
The Washington Post described him as “one of the most influential figures in US soccer circles.”
The former Brunton Park star was truly a pioneer of the game in the United States.