John Kerr Sr., a prominent figure in American soccer’s development as a player, coach and union leader, died June 19 of heart disease at his home in Chapel Hill, N.C. He was 67.

Kerr, a native of Scotland, played for the old Washington Darts and Washington Diplomats in the 1970s, coached the Fairfax, Va.-based Washington Stars from 1987 to 1990 and served as executive director of the first U.S. soccer players union.

From 1972 to 1975, he was an all-star midfielder for the New York Cosmos of the old North American Soccer League. In his final season with the Cosmos, one of his teammates was Pele, the Brazilian forward widely regarded as the greatest player in soccer history.

Kerr’s most influential work, however, came not as a player but as a union leader and as the coach of a generation of young soccer players in the Washington, D.C., area, where he led youth soccer teams for more than 15 years.

Drawing from his experiences as a professional player and coach, Kerr emphasized individual creativity and quick ball movement. His style belied traditional European tactics and encouraged young players to express themselves on the field, an approach known as the Brazilian style.

As an early leader with the players association of the old NASL, Kerr helped lead a strike in 1979 that led to higher player salaries. He held several leadership positions, including executive director, in the union and various later incarnations for more than 20 years.

John Kerr Sr. lived in Alexandria, Va., for many years before moving to Hilton Head, S.C., in 2004 and to North Carolina two years ago. He continued coaching youth teams until his death.

His first wife, the former Rena Rooney, died in 1988. His second marriage, to Ann Kerr, ended in divorce.