News

EMMANUEL LEDESMA: NEW HOME, SAME GAME

Goal-scorer, great teammate, and a family man, Emmanuel Ledesma, 29, has become a fundamental player for the Cosmos in only five games
Published Jun 24, 2017
The Cosmos recorded a 4 to 2 win over FC Puerto Rico last week, in which Emmanuel Ledesma was key when he came on as a substitute at the 62nd minute. He went on to score the equalizing goal for the Cosmos, making the score 2-2. That spectacular volley goal earned him the “Play of the Week” award for the NASL, and also helped him to receive the Emirates Man of the Match award.
 
His teammates call him ‘Manu’, and he is the kind of person that makes everyone else around him laugh with his humor. He arrived to New York alone, while he waits for his wife and two kids to move to Long Island. While he likes the calm and relaxed lifestyle here on Long Island, compared to the rush and high-intensity of Manhattan, he doesn’t feel alone. With a team that he refers to as family, Manu finds himself surrounded by his brothers.
 
“Yes, I’ve been to Manhattan only once and I almost died (laughs). It’s very intense,” admitted the left-winger. “I get along well with everyone; I have a good relationship with everyone. I enjoy myself with my teammates, whether it’s going to dinner, going bowling, just hanging around, or even going to the beach that’s close to us and drinking mate.” [Mate is a traditional South American caffeine-rich infused drink, particularly in Argentina and Uruguay].
 
Manu, a huge fan of his favorite team from Argentina, Boca Juniors, describes the North American Soccer League as a league that is very different from those where he has prior experience, such as the Championship in England and the Serie A in Italy, where he is used to the technical skill and quality from the European players.
 
“This league is very physical, I think it’s very similar to the Championship,” says Ledesma. “Here you can see the quality, but what really stands out is the physicality of the players in this league.”
 
In his first five appearances, Ledesma was able to score two goals and put away two assists. His goal against the Deltas was chosen by the Cosmos fan base as the “Fan Favorite” for the month of April. He was also selected as a member of the NASL Team of the Month: in May, while also being chosen to be a part of the “NASL Team of the Week” twice.
 
“The awards, honors, and the support from the fans give me a boost of confidence when it comes down to each game, and it shows on the field,” says Ledesma. “I’m very grateful to the fans for their kindness and support, and I’ll keep working hard for that very reason.”
 
An very humble Manu felt somewhat uncertain when it came down to choosing which goal out of the two that he has scored so far for the Cosmos was his favorite.
 
“I liked both of them, but I think I’ll have to go with the one that I scored against the Deltas. I’ll go with that one because it was a chip and to me, it was more valauble.”
 
In the end, that goal was worth three points, since that beauty of a chip ended up being the game-winner. Manu hopes to keep giving the club reasons to be happy about. A professional on and off the field, Ledesma has a lot to contribute to this team in the weeks to come.
 
Manu and the Cosmos are on the road against Miami FC on Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 pm. The team will return to MCU Park on Tuesday, July 4 at 7:30 pm, as they host the Indy Eleven. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, click here.