United Soccer Leagues have announced that New York Cosmos U23 will field a team in the Premier Development League (PDL), and will become a full member for the 2012 season.
New York Cosmos U23 will play a limited exhibition schedule against PDL competition during the 2011 season, and will not be eligible for the playoffs or the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The PDL franchise will be led by longtime USL player/coach Giovanni Savarese, who is also a member of the 2007 USL Hall of Fame.
A coaching announcement, along with the full roster and schedule will be posted by mid-May on www.uslsoccer.com and www.newyorkcosmos.com.
After a 25-year absence, The New York Cosmos were relaunched in August 2010 with Pelé named Honorary President. One of the most recognizable soccer clubs in the world. The New York Cosmos took America, and subsequently the world, by storm in the 1970s and 1980s by bringing in top stars such as Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Giorgio Chinaglia to play an entertaining brand of soccer that captivated fans.
Currently, the club's international ambassadors include Chinaglia and Alberto. Former France and Manchester United forward Eric Cantona serves as director of soccer and former United States international Cobi Jones is associate director of soccer and ambassador.
"We are excited to have one of the top names in world soccer joining the Premier Development League," USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. "New York Cosmos U23 is led by experienced and ambitious management who know how to run a first-class operation, and their participation will only strengthen the thriving PDL presence in the greater New York area. This relationship is a natural progression based on their strong relationship with Umbro, USL's most important and longest standing partner."
