Dennis Tueart won three major honours during his professional career but the first two could scarcely prepare him – or anyone for that matter – for the seismic task he faced across the Atlantic.
In 1973 the Newcastle-born winger etched his name in Wearside folklore as Bob Stokoe’s Black Cats caused the greatest shock in FA Cup history.
And, three years later, Tueart would return to Wembley with Manchester City as he once again made the big stage his own, scoring a sensational overhead kick to seal a 2-1 win for the Citizens in the League Cup final.
England caps and international goals followed before a move to the New York Cosmos came to fruition in 1978, as Tueart faced the biggest challenge of his career – replace Pele.
“Blimey – I’m replacing Pele! No pressure there, then.”
This was the winger’s reaction when he came face to face with a tactics board detailing the Cosmos’ new-look forward line following the Brazilian’s retirement.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was done having led the Cosmos to their second North American Soccer League title, his final honour in a glittering career unlike any other.
Replacing him was a daunting prospect, but, then again, Tueart was never one to shy away from a challenge.
The spirit of ‘73 ensured that.
“It was a great opportunity for me at the stage I was at during my career, but what I didn’t realise at the time was that Pele had retired the season before I got there – that wasn’t until I saw the team!
“It was a fantastic experience for me because similarly to what we have now in the Premier League – foreign players, exhibition games around the world and global sponsors – we were owned by Warner Communications which was a multi-billion-dollar operation.”
He added: “We went on tours around the world – my last was six weeks long and we played 14 games in eight different countries – it was fantastic.”
In July 2014 Manchester United took on Real Madrid in front of a record-US crowd at the Michigan Stadium, with over 109,000 spectators in attendance to watch the Red Devils face the Galacticos.
But, domestically, Tueart and the Cosmos still hold the record for the largest crowd for a professional soccer club championship game.
“We were selling out huge stadiums,” added the former Black Cat.
“I remember playing at Melbourne Cricket Club and over 50,00 people were there to see it, and that’s the type of game you see Premier League clubs playing now during pre-season.”
The record arrived at Soccer Bowel ’78 as New York strived to repeat their Pele-led success of ’77.
Just shy of 75,000 spectators turned out for the occasion, and Tueart didn’t’ disappoint.
Despite the Cosmos fielding the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto, it was a local north east lad who stole the show with Tueart opening the scoring before sealing a 3-1 win with his second of the game on 77 minutes.
Post-match he was awarded the man of the match award as New York revelled in becoming the first side to successfully defend the NASL.
Mission accomplished.
