After spending last year in the Rocky Mountains, David Diosa is back home.

 

And, he can't he happier.

 

The versatile 26-year-old player returned to the New York Cosmos after spending 2018 with the Real Monarchs in the United Soccer League.

 

"I'm really excited to be back home," he said. "It's an honor to be back on a team with such a great history, a team where I feel like I was home, where I spent most of my professional career."

 

A little more than a week into preseason training, the Queens native has liked what he has seen from some former teammates and newcomers to the team. That has given Diosa some very high hopes and expectations.

 

"We have a great group, the level is high," he said. "We have a group that can achieve some great things in the Open Cup, NPSL, and the NPSL Founders Cup, so I am really excited and looking forward to it."

 

The Cosmos will open their National Premier Soccer League season against New York Athletic Club at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y., on Saturday, April 27. The regular season runs through July with the championship game on Aug. 3. They will start their Lamar Hunt Open Cup journey against an opponent to be determined on May 8. And they will kick off the Founders Cup at Chattanooga FC on Aug. 10.

 

Diosa already has written his name into club history, netting the first competitive goal for a Cosmos side in 25 years when he opened the scoring for his New York Cosmos Academy Under-18 team in a U.S. Soccer Development Academy match against Connecticut’s South Central Premier in 2010.

 

"He grew up in the Academy, so he understands the club," head coach Carlos Mendes said. "He's here to elevate the level. He's a crafty player. He's been playing pro now for a while. He brings us something, another dimension. So, we're very happy to have him."

 

Diosa's tenure with the Monarchs was bittersweet as his playing time was short and sweet due to a hamstring injury.

 

"I could say it wasn't the best because of the injuries that I had," he said. "The injuries didn't let me show what my game was."

 

He trained with the Monarchs and with the parent club, Real Salt Lake, in the preseason prior to the injury.

 

"Things were going well until I had that injury and it happened again," he said. "It wasn't that great experience in that way. But it was a great experience to be there with a great organization. They're setting up a high standard for soccer in the U.S. Over there, soccer is growing. It was great to be part of that. I was unlucky to have those injuries."

 

So, when the opportunity arose for Diosa to wear the green and white of the Cosmos again, he jumped at it.

 

He returns to a team that has a new man in charge since he last played here in 2017 -- Mendes has replaced Giovanni Savarese as head coach.

 

That shouldn't be a problem, considering Diosa played alongside Mendes at left back that North American Soccer League season.

 

"He's our coach now. It's a little different, but I'm happy that I will play for him, someone I played with the Cosmos before, sometimes next to him at left back," he said

 

"Obviously, it's going to be a little different. Now he's the coach. Mendes is a great person. He was a great player, too, a great leader, a great captain. The only difference is he's the coach and I've got to respect him as a coach. I can't talk to him as a player now, but I think he’s a great person and I thank him a lot for giving me this opportunity to be back with the team."

 

Diosa probably is the most versatile member of the team. During the Cosmos' 2016 North American Soccer League championship season and in 2017, he played at left back, midfield, and forward under Savarese.

 

"He was the one who turned me into a left back," Diosa said. "For me, it's great. I have obviously more opportunities to play but I'm going to play where Mendes needs me, left back, left wing. Hopefully, when I'm playing on the left wing, I score some goals and when I'm playing out the back, help the team defend."

 

Mendes loved the options he has with the Colombian-born player.

 

"He's a natural left, which is great for us," he added. "He's going to see the field. We're going to rely on him. He's a great personality in the locker room, knowing him and playing with him. I think he needs to step up -- he's been a pro a [few] years -- to start to lead and be able to do more on that side of the things."

 

Diosa's goals for 2019 were pretty straight forward.

 

"To get as much playing time as I can and make an impact on the team," he said. "Help the team a little bit with my experience. Last year I didn't have the opportunity because of the injuries. Be a better player and a better person by the end of the year. Our team goals are to be in the championship final.”