New York Cosmos (2010)
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| Full name | New York Cosmos | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Cosmos | ||
| Founded | 1 August 2010 [n 1] | ||
| Stadium | Shuart Stadium, Hempstead, New York[3] (capacity: 15,000[4]) |
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| Owner | New York Cosmos LLC[5] | ||
| Chairman | Seamus O'Brien[6] | ||
| Head Coach | Giovanni Savarese[7] | ||
| League | North American Soccer League[6] | ||
| 2013 | Inaugural season[6] | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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The New York Cosmos (pronounced /ˈkɒzmɒz/) are an American professional soccer club based in New York City, scheduled to play their inaugural season in the North American Soccer League during the 2013 season. The present day organization, which was formed in August 2010, is named after and claims lineage of the original New York Cosmos, who were active from 1971 to 1985, mostly in the old North American Soccer League, which ceased operations in 1984. The new Cosmos ultimately aspire to join Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They will begin playing in the 2013 Fall NASL season.
The Cosmos' back-room structure includes three former players from the original team: Pelé is its honorary president while Shep Messing and Carlos Alberto are international ambassadors. Giovanni Savarese is the team's head coach. Former France and Manchester United forward Eric Cantona became director of soccer in January 2011, with former United States international Cobi Jones as his deputy.
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History [edit]
The original New York Cosmos club, active from 1971 to 1985, was the strongest franchise in the original North American Soccer League (NASL), both financially and competitively.[8] At its height, it featured in its line-ups some of the most famous players in the world, including the Brazilian star Pelé, German Franz Beckenbauer, Italian Giorgio Chinaglia, and Brazilian Carlos Alberto. After the Cosmos won the league championship in 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1982, it became clear that the other teams could not compete financially. The NASL and the Cosmos were dissolved in 1984 and 1985 respectively.
After the Cosmos folded, the team's last general manager, G. Peppe Pinton, continued to run and operate the club's youth camps, which had started in 1977.[9] With the rise of Major League Soccer (MLS) during the late 1990s and 2000s, various New York City area entities approached Pinton about using the name for an MLS franchise. The existing franchise in New York, the MetroStars, made relevant enquires both before and after becoming the New York Red Bulls in 2006.[10] Pinton was reluctant to let the name be used by an MLS team, believing that the league was unwilling to respect the Cosmos' heritage;[11] however, after seeing MLS reintroduce historical NASL names, he changed his mind. The London Daily Mail reported in late August 2009 that Pinton had sold the name and image rights to Paul Kemsley, the former vice-chairman of English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur,[10][12][13] who headed a group intent on establishing a new Cosmos team in MLS. Pelé announced the club's return as the group's honorary president on August 1, 2010.[2]
Kemsley's group included English soccer businessman Terry Byrne as vice-chairman, as well as former Liverpool CEO Rick Parry.[5][14] Former Manchester United forward Eric Cantona was added as director of soccer in mid-January 2011,[15] with former United States player Cobi Jones as associate director. The original Cosmos' top goalscorer, Giorgio Chinaglia, was also named an international ambassador before his death in 2012.[5]
The Cosmos' first match was on August 5, 2011, when they played against Manchester United at Old Trafford in Paul Scholes's testimonial match. Cantona managed a team, mixing members of the Cosmos' under-23 team with guest players from around the world.[16][17][18]
The departure of Kemsley as chairman and CEO was announced by the Cosmos on October 26, 2011, with an official club statement saying that he wished "to pursue other interests and commitments". His replacement was not immediately announced.[19] A further press release on November 2 gave news of a company buyout, restructuring and various unspecified management changes within the organization. The statement also said that the goal of the club remained the same under its new, then unidentified owners – "unequivocally" to become an MLS team.[20]
The Cosmos announced on July 12, 2012 that they will start competitive play in the second-tier North American Soccer League in 2013, but insisted in the same press release that the club was still bent on ultimately joining MLS.[6][21] Giovanni Savarese, who had coached in the club's youth system, was confirmed as the senior team's first head coach on November 19 the same year.[7] About a month later, on December 11, former Red Bulls defender Carlos Mendes, a native of Long Island, became the new Cosmos' first senior player.[22]
Stadium [edit]
In July 2012, when the Cosmos' entry to the second-tier North American Soccer League was confirmed, starting in 2013, The New York Times reported that the club would initially play home games at James M. Shuart Stadium, on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, about 20 miles (32 km) east of downtown New York City on Long Island. The stadium seats 15,000,[4] and was home to the original Cosmos club during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.[3]
Supporters [edit]
The Cosmos' main supporters group is the Borough Boys Supporters Club, a group originally formed in 2007 to lobby for the creation of a professional soccer team based in New York City. The members first met in October 2007 and decided on the name "Borough Boys" on November 17, 2007, after holding a vote. The club's original motivation was simply the desire for professional soccer in the city, and to that end it held talks with city officials in early 2008. Soon after Kemsley's group bought the Cosmos rights in late 2009, the club wrote an open letter asking him to create an MLS franchise within the city; he reacted positively, leading the Borough Boys to pledge their support. The Borough Boys have since maintained a close relationship with the Cosmos.[23][24]
The supporters club is made up of around 1,000 members, and represents a broad spectrum of fans from many different backgrounds.[25] The Borough Boys' original logo used the colors of New York City—white, blue and orange—and was based around the arches of the Brooklyn Bridge; it also used the motto of Brooklyn, Eendraght Maeckt Maght, which translates from Dutch as "Unity makes strength".[25] After the club became affiliated with the Cosmos, it adopted a new emblem featuring a navy blue skull, seen in profile facing to the left, surrounded by green, yellow and blue "blades" similar to those on the Cosmos badge.[24][25]
Players [edit]
Current roster [edit]
Out on loan [edit]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Forward | Stefan Dimitrov (on loan at Fort Lauderdale Strikers) |  Bulgaria |
Retired numbers [edit]
Results [edit]
Inaugural Friendly
| August 5, 2011 | Manchester United  |
6 – 0 |  New York Cosmos |
Old Trafford, England | ||
| 14:30 EDT | Scholes  9'Rooney 28' (pen.)Anderson 50'Welbeck 59'Diouf 69', 74' |
Report | Attendance: 74,731[26] |
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Youth Academy [edit]
The club operates the Cosmos Academy, which it formed on foundation in August 2010. The academy is affiliated with Blau Weiss Gottschee and based in Queens, New York. It competes at various levels of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, fielding teams in the under-9 to under-18 age groups.[27] The US under-17 team's Spring 2011 roster included three players from the Cosmos Academy, more than any MLS team.[28][29]
A western division called Cosmos Academy West existed between August 2010 and August 2011, based in Pomona, California, about 27 miles (43 km) east of Los Angeles.[n 2] At the end of 2010, it was ranked by Soccer America as the third best boys' club in the United States and the top boys' club in California.[31][32] Six months after its original partnership with Los Angeles Futbol Club was terminated in February 2011,[30][31][33] Cosmos Academy West disbanded in August 2011, its operations folded into those of MLS club Chivas USA.[34] This was done so that the Cosmos would fit more closely the requirements of a potential MLS team based out of New York City.[35]
As part of the deal made with the Cosmos in 2010, Blau Weiss Gottschee were to receive payment from New York in January and August each year. After the first two bi-annual payments were made on time, an unspecified amount was still outstanding from the third three months after its due date on August 1, 2011, causing Blau Weiss Gottschee to file suit for non-payment against the Cosmos on November 8, 2011. Because of the lack of funding, Blau Weiss was forced to restore the tuition, transport and training fees which players had been required to pay before the 2010 deal, but which had been thereafter covered by the Cosmos sponsorship. The Blau Weiss statement did not reveal the court in which the claim will be pressed.[36]
An under-23 Cosmos side was accepted into the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the United States soccer pyramid, in May 2011, and was expected to join for the 2012 season. In preparation for this it played exhibition matches against existing PDL clubs during 2011, coached by Savarese.[37] However, it did not take part in the 2012 PDL season.[38]
Ownership and team management [edit]
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Pelé, pictured in June 2010, became honorary president of the revived Cosmos in August that year.
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Eric Cantona, the club's director of soccer, seen here in 2009, was appointed in January 2011.
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- As of July 12, 2012.[39]
Directors [edit]
- Honorary President: Pelé
- Chairman and CEO: Seamus O'Brien
- Chief Operating Officer: Erik Stover
- International Ambassadors: Carlos Alberto, Shep Messing
Soccer structure [edit]
- Director of Soccer: Eric Cantona
- Associate Director of Soccer: Cobi Jones
- Head Coach: Giovanni Savarese
- Assistant Coach: Alecko Eskandarian
- Assistant Coach: Carlos Llamosa
- Goalkeeping Coach: Guillermo Valencia
Management team [edit]
- Financial Controller: Kevin Kletz
- Marketing Manager: Sofia Sanchez
- Social Media Manager: Chris Thomas
Potential Major League Soccer expansion [edit]
At the time of the Cosmos' return in 2010, MLS was made up of 16 franchises, with three new teams set to join over the following two seasons: the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers in 2011, and the Montreal Impact in 2012. The earliest a 20th franchise could potentially join MLS would be in 2013.[40] Newsday reported in late April 2011 that the league was committed to placing the next franchise in the New York borough of Queens if a deal could be reached.[41] Terry Byrne said in July 2011 that the stadium was the biggest factor regarding the Cosmos' accession to MLS. "The league wants us to demonstrate that we are capable of taking a stadium [area] and building a stadium," he said.[42]
Working alongside New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Cosmos sought a location within New York City's boroughs rather than outside in a suburb (which would distinguish them from the Red Bulls, based in Harrison, New Jersey). Over a dozen locations around Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan were marked out in March 2011,[23][42] narrowed down to four sites by the end of July; two in Queens and one each in Brooklyn and "uptown" Manhattan.[42]
Apart from the stadium, an issue regarding MLS membership was the franchise fee that the Cosmos would have to pay to the league. When the club first announced its intention to join, the price stood at $40 million, but by the end of July 2011 the fee for any expansion team playing in New York had risen to $70 million, a 57% rise from the entry price paid by Montreal. At this time the club and league were in negotiations, which included talks over perhaps starting play at a temporary home stadium for "two or three years".[43] This round of talks ultimately proved unsuccessful.[3]
As of July 2012, the Cosmos are still keen to join MLS, while the league wishes to place its 20th franchise in New York City if it can can secure a site from the municipal authorities. Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, in Queens, is reportedly the league's preferred option.[3] MLS intends to build a soccer stadium in New York first, then auction off the league franchise to the highest bidder. According to Sports Illustrated, it hopes to draw a franchise fee of around $100 million in this way. In a July 2012 interview, Cosmos chairman Seamus O'Brien reportedly "certainly sounded interested" in potentially taking part in this process, though he also said the team had the money to build its own ground if necessary.[44]
Footnotes [edit]
- ^ The club itself claims February 4, 1971, when the original Cosmos were formed, as its foundation date.[1] Regarding the two sides as separate entities, the contemporary team started on August 1, 2010.[2]
- ^ While Cosmos Academy West existed, the Cosmos Academy based in Queens was called Cosmos Academy East.[30]
References [edit]
- Bibliography
- Newsham, Gavin (2006). Once in a Lifetime: The Incredible Story of the New York Cosmos. New York City: Grove Press. ISBN 0-8021-4288-5.
- Source notes
- ^ "The New York Cosmos Celebrates its 40th Birthday". New York City: New York Cosmos. 2011-02-05. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
- ^ a b Bell, Jack (2010-08-01). "Cosmos Begin Anew, With Eye Toward M.L.S". The New York Times (New York City). Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ a b c d Bell, Jack (2012-07-12). "Cosmos to Play in N.A.S.L. in ’13". The New York Times (New York City). Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ a b Dicker, Ron (2002-08-29). "College Football; Hofstra to Start Season Against Best in Its Class". The New York Times (New York City). Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ a b c "The Club". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ a b c d O'Brien, Seamus (2012-07-12). "New York Cosmos Returns to NASL". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ^ a b "Gio Savarese Named New York Cosmos Head Coach". New York City: New York Cosmos. 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
- ^ Bell, Jack (2008-05-01). "Gordon Bradley, Who Nurtured U.S. Soccer, Dies at 74". The New York Times (New York City). Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ "Sports People; Fewer Kicks". The New York Times (New York City). 1986-08-01. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ a b Bell, Jack (2006-04-19). "Red Bulls May Be Mix of Former Cosmos". The New York Times (New York City). Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Spangler, Adam (2009-05-04). "the cosmos, for free!". this is american soccer. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Sale, Charles (2009-08-29). "Kemsley planning rebirth of New York Cosmos". Daily Mail (London: Associated Newspapers Ltd). Retrieved 2009-08-29.
- ^ Dyer, Kristian (2007-05-15). "Cosmos' legacy yet to be fully embraced by MLS". ESPNsoccernet. ESPN. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
- ^ Labidou, Alex. "Former Liverpool CEO Rick Parry Discusses Involvement With New York Cosmos". Goal.com. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
- ^ "Eric Cantona takes New York Cosmos director job". BBC. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ Batram, Steve (2011-06-11). "Scholes match announced". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved 2011-06-10.
- ^ "Paul Scholes 'one of Manchester United's greatest' says Sir Alex Ferguson". BBC. 2011-08-05. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ Marshall, Adam (2011-08-05). "United 6 New York Cosmos 0". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "Paul Kemsley Steps Down as Chairman/CEO of The New York Cosmos". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
- ^ "Management Update From The New York Cosmos". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ O'Mard, Marcus Kwesi (2012-07-12). "Report: New York Cosmos Plan to Make NASL Return in 2013". Watertown, Massachusetts: New England Sports Network. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ^ "Long Island's own Carlos Mendes Returns Home to Play for New York Cosmos". New York City: New York Cosmos. 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
- ^ a b Diaz, Cesar (2011-03-24). "Borough Boys SC Host Successful Q&A with the New York Cosmos Front Office". Latino Sports. Latino Sports Ventures. Retrieved 2011-03-24. "In addition, they have looked into the Bronx, Manhattan, and Randall's Island as potential sites other than Queens."
- ^ a b Laveglia, Nick; Glickman, Leo. "The History of The Borough Boys". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
- ^ a b c Dobens, Chris. "Mission: A History of the Borough Boys". Borough Boys Supporters Club. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
- ^ "Entrevista con Cosmos U23 Jugador Marvin Iraheta". nycosmos.com (New York City: New York Cosmos). Retrieved 2011-08-15.
- ^ "Academy". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ Schaerlaeckens, Leander (2011-04-24). "Cantona's big plans for the Cosmos". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
- ^ "Spring 2011 Roster". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
- ^ a b "The New York Cosmos Goes Coast-to-Coast With Cosmos Academy". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
- ^ a b "Cosmos Academy West continues membership in USSDA". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. 2011-02-07. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ Kennedy, Paul (2010-12-07). "2010 Soccer America's Best Boys Clubs". Soccer America. New York City. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ^ "Press Release - Los Angeles Futbol Club". lafcsoccer.com. Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles Futbol Club. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ Eskilson, J. R. (2011-08-09). "Cosmos Academy West disbands; joins Chivas USA Academy". Goal.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ "New York Cosmos Announce Closure of Cosmos Academy West". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (2011-11-08). "Gottschee club sues Cosmos". Big Apple Soccer. New York City: Sports Vue Interactive. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ "New York Cosmos U23 Join PDL". USL Soccer Network. Tampa, Florida: United Soccer Leagues. 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
- ^ "PDL Schedule, Alignment Released". USL Soccer Network. Tampa, Florida: United Soccer Leagues. 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ "Management". nycosmos.com. New York City: New York Cosmos. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ^ Ogden, Mark (2011-01-19). "Eric Cantona's appointment at the New York Cosmos part of battle to restore football to heart of the Big Apple". The Daily Telegraph (London: Telegraph Media Group Ltd). Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ^ Logan, Greg (2011-04-21). "Second MLS club for New York on horizon". Newsday (Melville, New York). Retrieved 2011-04-25.
- ^ a b c Labidou, Alex (2011-07-28). "What's going on with the New York Cosmos?". Goal.com. Retrieved 2011-07-28.
- ^ "Cantona revelling in Cosmos role as United legend makes Old Trafford return". Daily Mail (London: Associated Newspapers Ltd). 2011-08-01. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
- ^ Wahl, Grant (2012-07-13). "New York Cosmos' return to NASL is the first step to franchise revival". Sports Illustrated. New York: Time Inc. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
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