Gordon Bradley was born in Sunderland but later moved to America to pursue his football career.

He became one of the most influential coaching figures in Amercian soccer history.

He was best known as coach of the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos in the 1970s, working with the likes of Pele and Johan Cruyff.

Nephew Michael Duff, who lives in Durham City, said: "He was a very charming, very funny, charismatic person.

"He would have kids where he lived in New York knocking on his door asking if he would come and kick a ball around in the street with them, and he did. That's just the kind of person he was."

At 17, Gordon worked as a miner at Easington Colliery, and was on duty on the day of the disaster there in 1951.

He was involved with football from an early age and signed for Sunderland AFC when he was only 18.

He only played one or two games because of a serious knee injury, which meant he never made the big time as a player.

He played for Carlisle United before continuing his career in Canada and later New York.

He became player-coach of the New York Cosmos in 1971 and oversaw the arrival of Pele in 1975.

He continued coaching at various U.S. teams until his retirement in 2000. But he continued to do radio and TV work and continued to coach local teams until the day he died.

Gordon died after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer's on April 29.

Gordon, who lived in Virginia, in the United States, leaves his wife of 49 years, Vera, sons Paul and Doug and five grandchildren.