There has been some chatter recently about what’s going on with the NY Cosmos. A sticker bombing campaign in the streets of New York, academies being announced on the east coast and Terry Byrne being named as the Director of Soccer have all been elements of the resurgence of the NY Cosmos.
Now comes official word that the NY Cosmos have partnered with LA youth club Los Angeles Futbol Club as well as the announcement that former NY Metrostars leading scorer and fan favorite Giovanni Savarese has been named Director of Cosmos Academy (East).
The ambition for the NY Cosmos to get an MLS team seems pretty obvious, but in the meantime, it’s apparent that they are making a big commitment to youth academies and investing time and energy in the future of the game.
According to the official press release:
August 25, 2010 (New York, NY) The New York Cosmos continues its
commitment to grassroots and youth soccer with two key announcements made
today Giovanni Savarese will be the Director of Cosmos Academy (East) and
a partnership with Los Angeles Futbol Club (LAFC) will form Cosmos Academy
(West). These announcements further build on the news made by soccer legend
Pelé earlier this month of the return of The New York Cosmos, as well as the
formation of Cosmos Academy (East) in partnership with Queens-based youth
club BW Gottschee (BWG).
Savarese, an Italian Venezuelan who moved to the United States over 20 years
ago to play for Long Island University, was a goal-scoring fan favorite
during his three seasons with the NY/NJ Metrostars and will continue BWG¹s
60-year tradition of developing the highest quality soccer talent at a local
and national level. The Cosmos Academy (East) will field teams from U12-U18
and will also participate in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
LAFC, based out of Pasadena, is one of the nation¹s most esteemed and
competitive youth soccer organizations and will now be called Cosmos
Academy (West), based out of Pomona. The Academy will field teams from
U9-U18 (boys) and participate in major leagues and tournaments throughout
California, in addition to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. LAFC has
received widespread recognition in the sport, most recently being ranked the
No. 1 youth club in California, and No. 6 across the country by Soccer
America.
As part of the agreement, Cosmos Academy (East) and Cosmos Academy (West)
will now be funded by The New York Cosmos, whereby costs normally incurred
by the families of these elite players will now be fully covered such as
registration fees, uniforms, coaches¹ salaries along with the cost of
participating in select tournaments and its related travel. In addition, the
respective club teams under LAFC and BWG will now be called LAFC Cosmos and
BWG Cosmos.
With a focus on youth development, The New York Cosmos is investing
significantly to provide young talented players with elite coaching
programs, facilities and training opportunities to help them realize their
dreams. All of this is part of The New York Cosmos¹ fundamental preparation
and underpinning needed to field an MLS franchise team in New York in the
near future.
“Our priority is the long-term development of players who will one day
represent The New York Cosmos at the highest possible professional levels in
soccer,” says Terry Byrne, Director of Soccer, The New York Cosmos.
“Developing that talent, with the Academies and coaches that we now have on
both coasts, will give us an outstanding platform for the future of The New
York Cosmos as well as U.S. Soccer.”
“Working with the youth has been a top priority for me after my professional
career, and I want to share with the next generation all the philosophies
that I gained as a player over the years,” says Giovanni Savarese, Director
of Cosmos Academy (East). “It is with great enthusiasm that I come to this
program with the shared vision of creating a professional environment in
which our youth will not only develop as soccer players, but also as great
individuals.”
Adds Teddy Chronopoulos, Director of Cosmos Academy (West), “We share mutual
ambition and principles with The New York Cosmos, in developing special
players. I can say with real excitement that this partnership will help us
reach our long-term goals, given their level of professionalism, resources
and contacts across the world as well as their love of the game.”
Both Cosmos Academy (East) and Cosmos Academy (West) will compete this
season, starting in September.
