over a couple cold ones -- early in our first season in 1996, when things were not going quite as we'd planned," D.C. United president and CEO Kevin Payne said. "He was so calm and reassuring -- he kept telling me and Bruce that everything was going to be fine, that we had good players, and all they needed was time. Bruce (Arena) and I would laugh and hope that Gordon was right. And, as was so often the case when it came to soccer, he was."
And those in Major League Soccer who knew Bradley echoed that sentiment.
"I was saddened to learn of Gordon's passing," said Red Bull New York sporting director Jeff Agoos, who was at D.C. United during Bradley's stint as analyst. "He was a giant in the world of soccer. Professionally we lose an icon in the sport and personally, I lose a dear friend. It's a very sad day for soccer in New York. On behalf of the entire Red Bull New York organization, we extend our condolences to his entire family in this sad time."
In 1996, Bradley was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame. He's part of the first class named to George Mason's Soccer Hall of Fame, the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame, the Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame and a member of the Ring of Honor at RFK Stadium.
"He was an inspiration to me because of his love for the game, and he always expressed it," Bruce Arena told The Washington Post. Arena earned his lone U.S. national team cap during Bradley's short stint as head coach in 1973. Bradley also earned one U.S. cap, in a friendly against Israel, although he didn't receive his citizenship until 1974.
Born in Sunderland, England on Nov. 23, 1934, Bradley's playing career started with Sunderland, before he moved on to Bradford Park Avenue and Carlisle United, where he played in 130 games over the span of three years.
Bradley moved across the Atlantic and played for Toronto Roma of the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League in 1963 and Toronto City in 1965. He moved to the U.S., playing for the New York Generals and Baltimore Bays in the early days of the North American Soccer League before being signed by the expansion New York Cosmos as a player-coach in 1971.
"Whether it was with five children in New York, 10 children in Washington, D.C., 20 college players at George Mason or with Pele and Franz Beckenbauer in front of 70,000 fans, Gordon Bradley was the same," said Shep Messing, who was signed by Bradley to play for the Cosmos and who is currently an MLS broadcaster based in New York. "He was inspirational, dedicated, honest, a leader and the greatest pioneer for soccer in America we have seen. I am honored to have played for him and a better man for have known him."
Memorial service plans are pending. Bradley is survived by Vera, his wife of 49 years, sons Paul Bradley and Doug Bradley, and five grandchildren.
In association with George Mason, the family has created the Gordon Bradley Scholarship Endowment. To contribute, call 703-993-3215.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
