VSA Mourns the loss of Gordon Bradley

Soccer Hall of Fame member was a familiar face at VSA games where he came to watch his grandchildren play.

Bradley was a major figure in the Noth American Soccer League. The Englishman coached the New York Cosmos in their heyday of the late 1970s, when the Brazilian superstar Pele played for the team and it drew crowds of 70,000 to Giants Stadium. He also coached the Washington Diplomats, where he worked with Dutch star Cruyff. He also served as the U.S. national team coach in 1973.

After working in the NASL, Bradley became a college coach, and he had a .606 winning percentage for George Mason, taking the school to the NCAA tournament six times. In 1996, Bradley was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Bradley played in England and Canada before joining the NASL. He became the Cosmos’ player-coach 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 Bradley; and five grandchildren.

VYSA

VYSA

US Club Soccer

US Club Soccer

US Soccer

US Soccer

USYS

USYS

Washington Spirit

Washington Spirit