Coach to Pele and Cruyff dies

MANASSAS, Virginia (AP) -- Gordon Bradley, the English native who coached Pele while at the New York Cosmos and Johan Cruyff in the North American Soccer League, has died. He was 74.

Bradley died Tuesday. He was a major figure in the NASL, coaching the Cosmos in their heyday of the late 1970s, when 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 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 0-5 as the U.S. national team coach in 1973.

In 1996, Bradley was inducted into the U.S. 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. E-mail to a friend

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