News

Cosmos B Announce First Players and Opening Game

Cosmos reserve team squad starts to take shape.
Published Apr 15, 2015

By Cosmos News Service

NEW YORK (April 15, 2015) – The New York Cosmos announced today the signings of three players who will be loaned to the Cosmos B team. Midfielders, Ruben Bover Izquierdo and Cristhian Hernandez, pending receipt of their P1 visas and defender John Neeskens will join the newly formed reserves squad. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Cosmos B will play in the National Premier Soccer League’s North Atlantic Conference (NPSL) under Cosmos B head coach, Alecko Eskandarian, who is also assistant coach for the New York Cosmos.

“This is an exciting time for the Club,” said Eskandarian. “Bover, Hernandez, and Neeskens are the first to be announced as part of the Cosmos B squad and we will finalize the rest of the team over the next week or so.

“Our team will be comprised of a good mix of local talent and international prospects. We are eager to get to work and begin preparing for our first match against Brooklyn on May 2nd.”

Neeskens, 21, is the son of former New York Cosmos player Johan Neeskens. He spent two seasons (2012 – 2014) in Spain, playing for Segunda B teams CF Badalona and UE Sant Andreu before joining MLS side Colorado Rapids for a season in 2014.

Bover, 22, played for English League One team, Charlton Athletic FC for a season before signing for MLS side, New York Red Bulls (2013-2015).

Hernandez, 21, made 24 appearances for the LA Galaxy U15/U16 squad and then went on to spend a year with USL Premier Development League club Central Jersey Spartans in 2011. In 2012 he signed with MLS team, Philadelphia Union and trained with La Liga side Real Sociedad for during the MLS off-season.

“These players are the first to join the Cosmos B side” said New York Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese. “Like all Cosmos B players they will be constantly evaluated and if appropriate they will be considered to be part of the first team at any time.”

The Cosmos B will play their opening fixture against the Brooklyn Italians on May 2, straight after the first team’s game against Ottawa Fury at MCU Park, making it free to fans that can enjoy two games for the price of one.

The full New York Cosmos B team schedule is yet to be finalized and will be released in the coming weeks.