View source for Gordon Jago

{{Short description|English football player and manager (born 1932)}}
{{About||the fictional Doctor Who character|Henry Gordon Jago}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gordon Jago<br />{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}}}
| image = Gordon Jago, MISL 1984-85 media guide page 021.tif
| caption = Jago circa 1984
| fullname = Gordon Harold Jago
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1932|10|22}}
| birth_place = [[Poplar, London]], England
| position = [[Centre-back]]
| years1 = 
| years2 = 1954–1962
| clubs1 = [[Dulwich Hamlet F.C.|Dulwich Hamlet]] 
| clubs2 = [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] 
| caps1 = 
| caps2 = 147  
| goals1 = 
| goals2 = 1 
| nationalyears1 = 1949  
| nationalteam1 = [[England U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 
| manageryears2 = 1967–1969 
| manageryears3 = 1969 
| manageryears4 = 1971–1974 
| manageryears5 = 1974–1977 
| manageryears6 = 1978–1982 
| manageryears7 = 1984
| manageryears8 = 1984–1989 
| manageryears9 = 1991–1997
| managerclubs1 = [[Eastbourne United F.C.|Eastbourne United]] 
| managerclubs2 = [[Baltimore Bays]] 
| managerclubs3 = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] 
| managerclubs4 = [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] 
| managerclubs5 = [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] 
| managerclubs6 = [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] 
| managerclubs8 = [[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]] 
| managerclubs9 = [[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]]
}}
'''Gordon Harold Jago''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|commas=on|MBE}} (born 22 October 1932) is an English former football player and manager, and the former director of the [[Dallas Cup|Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup]] international youth tournament.

==Playing career==
Born in [[Poplar, London]], Jago began his professional career as a center back in [[the Football League]] at [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/377170017/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland on October 24, 1967 · 27|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> with whom he joined in the [[1954–55 in English football|1954–55]] season from [[non-league football|non-league]] team [[Dulwich Hamlet F.C.|Dulwich Hamlet]]. Prior to Charlton, he played in six full internationals as a member of the [[England U20]] squad.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dallascup.com/mediacontent/News/869140.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031453/http://www.dallascup.com/mediacontent/News/869140.html |archive-date=26 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He made a total of 147 appearances for Charlton, scoring one goal, at [[The Valley (London)|The Valley]]. His final season with the Addicks was [[1961–62 in English football|1961–62]] before he moved back to non-league football, managing [[Eastbourne United F.C.|Eastbourne United]]. He started his coaching career with a spell at [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/377170017/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=from on October 24, 1967 · 27|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Managerial and coaching career==
In 1967 he was appointed coach of the [[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|National Professional Soccer League]], and future [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] side, [[Baltimore Bays]]. He later served in a dual capacity as the team's general manager as well. 
During this time Jago was also named coach of the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/377622031/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland on March 7, 1969 · 24|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> but ended this role after suffering two defeats in his only games in charge.

===Success in England===
In 1970 Jago joined [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] as a coach and became manager in January 1971.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/377283916/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland on May 7, 1970 · 35|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It was under his guidance that the basis of the QPR team which in [[1975–76 in English football|1975–76]] would come within a point of the League title was assembled. He signed pivotal players such as [[Stan Bowles]], [[Don Givens]], [[Dave Thomas (footballer born 1950)|Dave Thomas]] and [[Frank McLintock]] and led the club to promotion to the First Division in 1972–73.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dallascup.com/home/422752.html |title=Dallas Cup - Executive Director Gordon Jago to be Honored at QPR |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031546/http://www.dallascup.com/home/422752.html |archive-date=26 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jago left the club in October 1974 and was later appointed manager of [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] where he remained until 1977. In 1976 Jago took Millwall from the Third to the Second Division.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/318960839/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida on December 6, 1977 · 25|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Tampa Bay Rowdies===
Jago returned to North America to coach the NASL side, [[Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–93)|Tampa Bay Rowdies]] between 1978 and 1982.<ref name="auto1"/> He saw great success especially early on in Tampa, losing in the [[Soccer Bowl|outdoor final]] in both [[1978 North American Soccer League season|1978]] and [[1979 North American Soccer League season|1979]] and winning an [[1979–80 NASL Indoor season|indoor championship]] in his second year. Jago would return the Rowdies to the indoor final in the [[1981-82 NASL Indoor season|1981-82 season]], but came up short on his second try. He took the Rowdies to the outdoor post-season in four of his five years in Tampa, before resigning in the latter part of a disappointing [[1982 North American Soccer League season|1982]] outdoor campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/320238750/|title=Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida on July 9, 1982 · 37|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Dallas Sidekicks===
After a very brief stint as the general manager at QPR in 1984,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/320618913/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida on May 30, 1984 · 44|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Jago later had two separate stints as coach of [[indoor soccer]] side [[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]] between 1984 and 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/320617351/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida on August 15, 1984 · 9|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/300631199/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=The Odessa American from Odessa, Texas on January 29, 1991 · 14|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In between he served as the Sidekicks' team president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/215606491/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas on September 8, 1989 · Page 13|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1996 he also became a ten percent stakeholder in the club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/220408359/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas on May 8, 1996 · Page 13|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1998 Jago stepped down as coach for good.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219943043/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas on June 17, 1998 · Page 34|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He became President of the [[World Indoor Soccer League]] until the [[merger]] with the [[Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)|MISL]] for the 2002–03 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/13873839/?terms=Gordon+Jago|title=New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from New Braunfels, Texas on February 19, 1999 · Page 14|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> From 2013 to 2016 Jago served as the colour commentator to Norm Hitzes for the Dallas Sidekicks' televised [[Major Arena Soccer League|MASL]] home games.

==Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup==
Jago served as executive director of the [[Dallas Cup|Dr Pepper Dallas Cup]] before he stepped down in 2013. Afterward he continued to be an Ambassador and Special Consultant for the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dallascup.com/home/dallasCupNews/787378.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031625/http://www.dallascup.com/home/dallasCupNews/787378.html |archive-date=26 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During his tenure the Dallas Cup rose to become one of the preeminent youth soccer tournaments in the world.

==Recognition==
In 2005 he was made a charter member of the [[FC Dallas]] Walk of Fame. In recognition of his lifetime of achievements in advancing the sport, he was made a [[Order of the British Empire|Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] in [[2006 Birthday Honours|2006]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dallascup.com/home/152141.html |title=Dr. Pepper DALLAS CUP? XXVIII |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031538/http://www.dallascup.com/home/152141.html |archive-date=26 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 2010 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Disney Showcase, Gordon Jago was presented the "Lifelong Achievement Award" at Disney World in Orlando.

In March 2013, Jago was one of six men named to the 2013 class of the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame. The other inductees, all players, are [[Preki]], [[Kai Haaskivi]], [[Zoltán Tóth (footballer, born 1955)|Zoltán Tóth]], [[Brian Quinn (soccer)|Brian Quinn]], and [[Mike Stankovic]].<ref name="dmn130305j">{{cite news|first=Buzz |last=Carrick |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |location=[[Dallas, TX]] |title=Former Dallas Sidekicks Coach Gordon Jago Named 2013 Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee |url=http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2013/03/former-dallas-sidekicks-coach-gordon-jago-named-2013-indoor-soccer-hall-of-fame-inductee.html/ |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=8 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617115042/http://soccerblog.dallasnews.com/2013/03/former-dallas-sidekicks-coach-gordon-jago-named-2013-indoor-soccer-hall-of-fame-inductee.html/ |archive-date=17 June 2013  }}</ref><ref name="osc130305gj">{{cite news |work=Our Sports Central |title=Former Sidekicks Coach Gordon Jago Named 2013 Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4554370 |date=5 March 2013 |access-date=9 March 2013}}</ref>

A member of the Sidekicks Hall of Fame, he was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup in recognition of his invaluable, selfless, and far reaching contribution to the beautiful game in March 2016.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dallascup.com/mediacontent/News/839204.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826030551/http://www.dallascup.com/mediacontent/News/839204.html |archive-date=26 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Jago married his wife June Isabella Jago, a former London police officer, in March 1960. The couple raised one daughter, Kim, and remained together for 54 years until June died on 8 December 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=173483693|title=June Jago Obituary - Dallas, TX &#124; Dallas Morning News|website=[[Legacy.com]] }}</ref> In March 2017 his autobiography, ''A Soccer Pioneer: The Autobiography of Gordon Jago'', was published by Saint Johann Press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/72970/the-timings-perfect-for-gordon-jagos-autobiograp.html|title=The timing's perfect for Gordon Jago's autobiography|website=www.socceramerica.com}}</ref>

==Coaching honours==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Queens Park Rangers
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] promotion to [[Football League First Division|First Div]]: [[1972–73 Football League|1972–73]]

;Millwall
*[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] promotion to Second Div.: [[1975–76 Football League|1975–76]]

;Tampa Bay Rowdies
*Champion (1)
**NASL indoor: [[1979–80 NASL Indoor season|1979–80]]
*Runner-up (4)
**[[Soccer Bowl]]: [[Soccer Bowl '78|1978]], [[Soccer Bowl '79|1979]]
**NASL indoor: [[1979 NASL Budweiser Indoor Soccer Invitational|1979]], [[1981–82 NASL Indoor season|1981–82]]
*Conference champion (3)
**American Conference: [[1978 North American Soccer League season|1978]], [[1979 North American Soccer League season|1979]]
**Atlantic Conference indoor: [[1981–82 NASL Indoor season|1981–82]]
*Division champion (3)
**Eastern Division ''(of Atlantic Conf.)'': [[1978 North American Soccer League season|1978]], [[1979 North American Soccer League season|1979]], [[1980 North American Soccer League season|1980]]
{{col-2}}
;Dallas Sidekicks
*Champion (2)
**MISL: [[1986–87 Major Indoor Soccer League season|1986–87]]
**CISL: [[Continental Indoor Soccer League|1993]]
*Runner-up (2)
**MSL: [[1991–92 Major Soccer League season|1991–92]]
**CISL: [[Continental Indoor Soccer League|1994]]
*Division champion (2)
**MISL Eastern Division: [[1986–87 Major Indoor Soccer League season|1986–87]]
**CISL Eastern Division: [[Continental Indoor Soccer League|1994]]

;Individual Honors
*Coach of the Year (3)
**MISL: [[1986–87 Major Indoor Soccer League season|1986–87]], [[1991–92 Major Soccer League season|1991–92]], [[Continental Indoor Soccer League|1993]]
*FC Dallas Walk of Fame: 2005<ref name="auto"/>
*[[Member of the Order of the British Empire]]: 2006
*Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame: 2013
*Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup Lifetime Achievement Award: 2016
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{soccerbase manager|545}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Gordon Jago managerial positions
|list1=
{{United States men's national soccer team managers}}
{{Queens Park Rangers F.C. managers}}
{{Millwall F.C. managers}}
{{Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975–1993) managers}}
}}
{{NASL winning head coaches}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jago, Gordon}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
[[Category:People from Poplar, London]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Dulwich Hamlet F.C. players]]
[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Millwall F.C. managers]]
[[Category:United States men's national soccer team managers]]
[[Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) coaches]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) head coaches]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) executives]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies coaches]]
[[Category:Association football executives]]
[[Category:Men's association football central defenders]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]