GORDON BRADLEY, the Easington- born footballer who coached Pele while at the New York Cosmos and Johan Cruyff in the North American Soccer League, has died aged 74.

Bradley signed for Sunderland on the same day as Stan Anderson was released after injury, and played for Blackhall CW and Stanley United before 18 League appearances for Bradford PA and 129 for Carlisle.

He went to Canada, then the US, becoming player/coach and later vice-president of Cosmos.

He was a major figure in the NASL, coaching the Cosmos in their heyday of the late 1970s, when crowds of 70,000 came to the Giants Stadium. He also coached the Washington Diplomats, where he worked with Cruyff.

After working in the NASL, Bradley became a coach for George Mason University, taking the school to the U.S. college championship tournament six times. He also was the US national team coach in 1973.

In 1996, Bradley was inducted into the US. Soccer Hall of Fame.

He became the Cosmos' playercoach in 1971 and, after being dismissed as coach, he later returned to the star-studded team.

Bradley is survived by Vera, his wife of 49 years, sons Paul and Doug and five grandchildren.