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Cosmos Coach Carlos Mendes To Be Inducted Into Long Island Soccer Player Hall Of Fame

Mendes will be honored on Saturday night
Published Feb 22, 2019

Carlos Mendes will receive another honor as he will be inducted into the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
 
The New York Cosmos head coach will be feted along with four other inductees at the organization's annual induction ceremonies at the Huntington Hilton in Melville, N.Y., at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23.
 
"It's a huge honor. I'm very excited," Mendes said. "I'm very proud of growing up here on Long Island. To be inducted into the hall of fame with such great history in my community and players that I have looked up to my whole life. I'm very grateful."
 
Mendes, 38, forged a reputation as one of the top players from the Long Island and New York area.
 
He turned pro in 2002, helping the Rough Riders to the USL Pro title. He joined the Rochester Rhinos (A-League) the next season before moving to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) for the 2005 Major League Soccer season, helping the team reach the 2008 MLS Cup. He also performed for the Columbus Crew in 2012.
 
Mendes became the first player to sign with the rebooted Cosmos in 2013, captaining the squad to five consecutive postseason appearances and three North American Soccer League championships in 2013, 2015, and 2016.
 
He played in 111 regular-season matches with the Cosmos and another eight playoff games, becoming the first Cosmos player in modern history to reach 100 matches.
 
"As a player coming out from the New York City area, coming out of Long Island, it is a big honor for him to represent the entire soccer community in New York," Cosmos Senior Vice President Joe Barone said. "He has had an incredible career in MLS and then in the NASL, captained the New York Cosmos practically to perfection, the championships he was a part as a captain. A deserved honor.
 
"I'm very high on Carlos. He's someone who represents all of us in the local community. It's a big honor. He is a big role model for players to look up to and coaches to look up, especially coaches who are here in our community. Carlos' work ethic is in details, which is very important. He does a great job in that. He has all of the support of myself and [Cosmos owner] Rocco Commisso and the Mediacom family in making sure he's successful in coaching the Cosmos."
 
In his first year as a head coach in 2018, Mendes directed the Cosmos to a 10-0-0 regular season record as the team reached the Northeast Region Final of the National Premier Soccer League playoffs. For his accomplishments and leadership, Mendes was named NPSL Coach of the Year.
 
In 2019, Mendes will guide the Cosmos in two seasons -- in the NPSL in the spring and summer, and the NPSL Founders Cup starting in August.
 
Mendes also was inducted into the Long Island Soccer Football League's inaugural Hall of Fame ceremonies in November 2015 and is a member of the Mineola Portuguese Hall of Fame.