News

Fernando Barboto Named Cosmos B Head Coach

NJIT head coach to lead Cosmos reserve side in title defense; Eskandarian will focus on first team duties
Published Feb 2, 2016

Fernando Barboto, a 16-year veteran head coach of NCAA Division I men’s soccer, has assumed the same title with New York Cosmos B for the team’s 2016 National Premier Soccer League campaign. Barboto will lead Cosmos B in defending its league championship when the NPSL season begins this spring.

“Fernando’s work is in line with the mentality of the club,” said Cosmos Head Coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese. “Having him lead our B team is another step in laying the foundation of our youth system, top to bottom.”

Alecko Eskandarian, who piloted Cosmos B to a league trophy in its inaugural 2015 season, will concentrate exclusively on his role as first team assistant coach this year.

“Alecko was fantastic with Cosmos B, assembling the group of players and completing an undefeated season,” Savarese said. “Now he’ll be able to channel all his energy and coaching talent into the first team.”

“I hope to build on the foundation for this team that Alecko created,” Barboto added. “Joining this club is a great honor, and I can’t wait to get started coaching Cosmos B.”

Barboto, an NSCAA All-American in his senior season at New Jersey’s Montclair State University, played six seasons of professional soccer with the North Jersey Imperials in what was then the United Soccer League (USL). His first head coaching position came with his alma mater in 1995, as he led the Montclair State women’s soccer team for three seasons.

After three years served as head coach of the Saint Francis University men’s soccer team, Barboto assumed that position at Iona College in 2003 and held it for 13 straight seasons, transforming the Gaels into a Division I power and becoming the winningest coach in program history. He was appointed head coach of the New Jersey Institute of Technology a month ago, becoming the fourth men’s head soccer coach since the program moved to Division I.

Cosmos B defeated Chattanooga FC 3-2 in the 2015 NPSL Championship on Aug. 8, 2015. The 2016 NPSL season gets underway in May.