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New York Cosmos to launch the Cosmos Chess Club in partnership with the New Jersey Chess Club

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• New community program at Hinchliffe Stadium will bring chess education and competition to players of all ages

PATERSON, NJ — The New York Cosmos will launch the Cosmos Chess Club, a new community initiative in partnership with the New Jersey Chess Club (NJCC) designed to expand access to chess education and competition for players of all ages and skill levels across North Jersey.

The program will be part of the Cosmos ’ongoing commitment to building connections through sports, culture and education. Launching in winter 2025–26, the Cosmos Chess Club will offer coached instruction, open play nights, scholastic leagues and monthly USCF-rated tournaments at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ. Programming will serve beginners through advanced players, with a focus on youth development, girls’ participation and affordable opportunities for first-time learners.

“The Cosmos are expanding our community presence through programs that bring people together and create opportunities to learn and connect,” Cosmos CEO Erik Stover said. “Our partnership with the New Jersey Chess Club reflects that mission — offering families across North Jersey a new way to engage with the Cosmos beyond the soccer field. The Cosmos Chess Club is an open invitation to be part of the Cosmos Club, where sport, culture and community come together. Over time, we aim for it to become a lasting part of the region’s educational and cultural landscape.”

Program Highlights

• Coached Instruction: Age- and level-based classes led by certified coaches and active players.

• Open Play and Ladders: Community game nights featuring casual play, rapid/Blitz ladders and themed workshops.

• Scholastic Chess: After-school clinics, inter-school league play and seasonal youth camps (fall, winter, spring, summer).

• USCF-Rated Tournaments: Monthly Swiss-format tournaments, quads and seasonal championships. (USCF membership required — join at https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess.)

• Access and Inclusion: Free youth memberships for Passaic County students, need-based scholarships and girls-only cohorts.

• Player Pathway: Structured curriculum with skill tracking and preparation for state and regional events.

Kickoff Event

The Cosmos Chess Club will debut with a community kickoff event at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson. The event will include beginner lessons, open play and on-site registration for upcoming classes, leagues and tournaments. Additional details — including date, time and featured guests — will be announced soon.

To learn more and sign up for updates, visit https://tickets.nycosmos.com/event/cosmos-chess-club-valmff.

Community Impact

The partnership will also bring chess education to underserved neighborhoods through collaborations with local schools and community organizations. The initiative will include coach visits, equipment grants and scholarship opportunities funded by the Cosmos, reinforcing the club’s mission to connect sports, culture and education across North Jersey.

About the New York Cosmos

Founded in 1971, the New York Cosmos became a global soccer icon through legends like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, and Carlos Alberto. Today, the club is relaunching in Paterson, NJ, with a mission to unite community and culture through sports. Based at Hinchliffe Stadium, the Cosmos aim to celebrate heritage, inspire youth, and showcase the pride and passion of North Jersey.

About the New Jersey Chess Club

The New Jersey Chess Club (NJCC) is a premier regional hub for chess education and competition, offering certified instruction, scholastic programming and USCF-rated events for players of all levels. Learn more at www.njchess.club.

New York Cosmos name Italy’s Davide Corti as ninth head coach and first of USL League One era

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• Corti will manage the Cosmos first team as it returns to competition in spring 2026

• Corti’s wide range of experience includes 15 years as an AC Milan coach, youth technical director and scout, plus four years working in New Jersey youth soccer

• Corti played professionally for 13 seasons and recently managed the AC Milan and Sampdoria Serie A Femminile teams

PATERSON, NJ (Sept. 4, 2025) — The New York Cosmos have appointed Davide Corti, an experienced and versatile coach from Milan, Italy, as the ninth head coach in the club’s competitive outdoor history and the first of its USL League One era.

Corti, 53, has signed a multi-year contract and will begin his duties immediately, reporting to Cosmos Head of Soccer Giuseppe Rossi. The long-time professional defender most recently managed AC Milan and Sampdoria in Italy’s top women’s league, the Serie A Femminile. He previously spent a dozen years at AC Milan as a youth technical director, coach and scout, and then another four years with New Jersey youth clubs Cedar Stars Academy (CSA) and New Jersey Rush SC.

Corti holds a UEFA A License and a Master’s Certificate in sports psychology from the Catholic University of Milan. He speaks Italian, English and Spanish.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Davide to our team,” Rossi said. “He brings a wealth of experience as a coach, having worked in the prestigious youth system of AC Milan, as well as in youth development in New Jersey. Combined with his impressive career as a player, Davide offers a unique perspective that perfectly aligns with what we’re building here at the Cosmos.”

Cosmos Chairperson Baye Adofo-Wilson said, “Davide is a top-class person. His personality off the field and in the locker room was just as important for us as his tactical coaching ability. He’s a very good fit for our club.”

The Cosmos will return to competition in early 2026 and compete in USL League One, a growing league in the third tier of the U.S. professional soccer pyramid. Home matches will be played at historic Hinchliffe Stadium, a recently renovated, 7,800-seat venue in downtown Paterson, NJ. The Cosmos previously played in North Jersey from 1977 through 1984, when a team featuring the likes of Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia won four NASL titles and inspired fans across the world.

“The Cosmos were the first American club that we started talking about in Europe. This club has a history of promoting soccer, and it was amazing that some of the best players went there to play and promote the game and help it reach the level that it’s at now,” Corti said.

“But it’s not just about the name. I believe the people who are part of this project are really going to make the difference,” Corti continued. “I see the passion they’re already putting into it, making arrangements to start from the ashes, because the Cosmos have been out of competition for a few years. It’s a big challenge, and I like challenges. Second, I really like the people. And then the name ‘Cosmos ’is something that really excites me. I would like to bring my effort and personal experience to this project so we can bring the Cosmos back to the level they deserve.”

Corti was raised in AC Milan’s youth system and played for Italy’s U-18 national side. Although he eventually appeared for Milan’s first team in a 1990-91 Coppa Italia match, opportunities were limited at a star-studded club that just won consecutive European Cups. So Corti departed in 1992 and embarked on an educational 13-year journey through the domestic pyramid, playing for Empoli FC, Pro Sesto 1913, US Brescello, Novara Calcio, Castel di Sangro Calcio, AC Meda 1913 and AC Legnano.

Upon his 2005 retirement, Corti began scouting for AC Milan while working as the youth technical director for Ostiamare Lido Calcio, a Serie D club outside Rome. Three years later, after coaching Ostiamare’s first team, Corti returned to Milan to begin a 12-year stint as a youth coach, technical director, academy director and consultant.

Corti had visited the U.S. during Milan’s 1991 preseason tour and remained intrigued by soccer’s stateside growth. In 2017, he embraced an opportunity to delve more deeply into American soccer and became technical director at New Jersey youth powerhouse Cedar Stars. Corti instructed coaches, developed programming and training methodology, and managed CSA’s U-19 and U-16 teams. He then moved to partner club New Jersey Rush before returning to Italy in 2021.

Back at AC Milan, Corti shifted to the women’s game and worked as an academy technical coordinator while coaching the Rossoneri’s U-19 team, which won the prestigious Viareggio Women’s Cup tournament in 2023. Later that year, Corti took over the club’s Serie A Femminile squad, arriving mid-season and finishing the league campaign on a 8W-0L-2D run. Milan also reached the Coppa Italia Femminile semifinals. Corti then was hired by Sampdoria, but he departed the Genoa club in November 2024.

That remarkable array of experiences—from youth to pro; as a coach, technical director and administrator; and from Italy to New Jersey and back—allowed Corti to stand out among the Cosmos’ potential head coaching candidates.

“Davide not only understands the critical importance of youth development but also knows how to provide the right input to our first team players, helping them maximize their strengths on the pitch,” Rossi said. “Beyond his on-field qualities, Davide embodies the values and principles we seek in our head coach. We’re proud to have him lead our team as we embark on this exciting new venture.”

Corti is the Cosmos ’first native Italian head coach, although South Africa-born Eddie Firmani played for the Italian national team in the 1950s. Corti succeeds Carlos Mendes, who managed the Cosmos during the fall 2020 NISA season (the club’s most recent competitive campaign).

The full list of Cosmos head coaches, with the outdoor seasons they managed:

Gordon Bradley (1971-1977), Ken Furphy (1976), Eddie Firmani (1977-79, 1984), Ray Klivecka (1979), Júlio Mazzei (1979-80, 1982-83), Hennes Weisweiler (1980-81), Giovanni Savarese (2013-17), Carlos Mendes (2020), Davide Corti (2026).

For more information on the Cosmos, visit nycosmos.com

For Cosmos membership deposits and ticket information, please click here.

New York Cosmos select New Jersey’s Morris Elite Soccer Club as Official Affiliate for youth development

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—The Cosmos’ commitment to identifying and promoting local talent will be the focus of multi-year alliance with premier youth soccer organization

—Morris Elite and the Cosmos will join forces to field a boys team in the USL Academy League

PATERSON, NJ (Aug. 22, 2025) — The New York Cosmos’ commitment to scouting, developing and promoting local talent will be anchored by a multi-year partnership with Morris Elite Soccer Club of Madison, NJ. Under terms of the agreement, Morris Elite will be the Official Affiliate of the New York Cosmos, serving as an identifier and incubator of potential prospects for the professional club’s USL League One team.

The Cosmos will return to competition in spring 2026, with home matches taking place at renovated Hinchliffe Stadium in downtown Paterson, NJ. Signing and showcasing players with regional ties will be a hallmark of the Cosmos’ new era, and a productive alliance with Morris Elite will be a key component of that mission.

“This is an important part of our foundation and long-term planning,” Cosmos CEO Erik Stover said. “The immediate focus for our first team is identifying top quality players from New Jersey. The relationship with Morris Elite allows us to have an eye toward future development.”

The partnership’s focus will be Morris Elite’s boys USL Academy side. From 2026, that team will wear both the Cosmos and Morris Elite logos on its match kit.

The USL Academy League’s Boys Division is a year-round, nationwide competition currently comprising 95 teams arranged in 14 regional groups (Morris Elite plays in the Mid Atlantic alongside seven clubs from New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania). USL Academy teams are U-20 but must include a minimum number of U-17 athletes. In addition, up to three men over the age of 19 can participate in a given Academy match, while Academy players are permitted to train and potentially play for the affiliated professional team.

“It’s for serious players who aspire to play at the next level,” said Morris Elite founder and President Vincenzo Bernardo, who holds a minority stake in the Cosmos and serves on the club’s Soccer Committee. “We’ll be wearing the Cosmos badge, and it will be an exclusive part of our player pathway. It’s a true pathway to pro from the grassroots, which we need more of in New Jersey.”

Bernardo grew up playing youth soccer in North Jersey. He attended St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ, appeared for the U.S. U-17 and U-20 national teams and moved to Italy at 16 to play for Napoli’s academy and reserve squads. Bernardo’s professional career included stops in Austria, Guatemala and the USA. After retiring in 2016, he returned to New Jersey and launched Morris Elite.

Just nine years later, the club serves nearly 1,000 players from Morris County and the surrounding region. Its boys and girls teams compete in the USL Academy and USL Youth setups, as well as in Elite Academy League, U.S. Club Soccer’s National Premier League, Elite Development Program and U.S. Youth Soccer National League competitions. Morris Elite’s USL League Two (men’s) and USL W League (women’s) pre-professional teams sit atop its full-service pyramid.

“This was the missing piece. We didn’t have access to a pro team. It’s a dream come true to be a part of this and to be a part of the Cosmos. We’re really excited and grateful for the opportunity,” Bernardo said.

The Cosmos-Morris Elite partnership also will include interactions between the professional team and the youth club, such as open training sessions, allowing for closer technical and cultural integration.

“Morris Elite is our Official Affiliate, but we’re also planning to announce numerous partnerships with other clubs and academies as part of our player development plans,” Stover added.

The Cosmos intend to launch a women’s professional team in the coming years, while expanding their developmental footprint throughout New Jersey and the Tri-State area with additional Club Partner agreements.

For information on the New York Cosmos, Hinchliffe Stadium and USL League One, please visit https://www.nycosmos.com/.

For Cosmos membership deposits and ticket information, please see https://tickets.thecosmos.us/event/member-deposits-05ef99.

For more on Morris Elite, please see https://morriselitesoccer.com/.

Q&A: COSMOS SCOUT AND MANAGER OF YOUTH PARTNERSHIPS JOSE ANGULO, A PATERSON PRODUCT AND FORMER USL MVP

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Before traversing the country during a 13-year pro career, before earning USL Pro MVP honors, and even before winning national titles at St. Benedict’s Prep and emerging as a U.S. U-17 national team prospect, Jose Angulo had developed a rare perspective on American soccer’s depth and potential.

That came thanks to a childhood spent watching neighbors and former pros contest lively Sunday league matches at Paterson’s packed Pennington Park. And it came playing for Colso Club, the team launched by Angulo’s late father, long-time pro José Angulo, and fellow Colombian immigrants who noticed a dearth of opportunities for young players in urban New Jersey.

“It was a very interesting time to grow up as a soccer person,” Angulo said. “You had to go search for it, or make it yourself.”

Angulo, now 37, made it pretty far. As a child, the Barranquilla, Colombia-born striker moved to Paterson’s 21st Ave. neighborhood and attended PS No. 30 (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Complex). He eventually spent time with the New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls and played for teams in the USL, NASL and NISA.

A professional high point was winning the 2013 USL Pro MVP award after scoring 15 regular season goals for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. But there also were times when Angulo felt like he’d slipped between the cracks. Early passport and paperwork issues prevented a move to Europe and cut short his dream of representing the USA in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup. And occasionally it seemed like his non-traditional developmental path wasn’t always embraced at the highest levels of the domestic game.

Angulo’s unique journey through the promises and pitfalls of the sport’s American ecosystem, not to mention his strong ties to North Jersey’s diverse soccer community, made him the ideal choice when New York Cosmos Head of Soccer Giuseppe Rossi was looking to make his first technical appointment.

In July, Angulo was hired as the club’s scout and manager of youth partnerships. The Cosmos, who will kick off their USL League One schedule in March 2026 at Paterson’s renovated Hinchliffe Stadium, are dedicated to identifying, signing and fielding local athletes. Angulo will be the point person for finding those players and forging fruitful relationships with nearby clubs and coaches.

It’s a fitting position for someone who once navigated that complex terrain, and who still believes there’s loads of untapped talent throughout North Jersey and the Tri-State area. It’s also an appropriate landing spot for someone who appreciates the Cosmos’ legacy. Angulo’s father, José, remained Colombian at heart yet still revered the great Pelé. Dad and son would subject their VHS recordings of Brazil’s World Cup highlights to heavy use. So the Cosmos’ return to competition, and their commitment to offering opportunities to local players, represents a gratifying full-circle moment.

“It’s surreal that Pelé was involved with the Cosmos, and now I’m working for the Cosmos. I wish I could share it with my Dad. It’s an honor,” Angulo said.

“I know how big this is. I know how much this means to the kid who’s in school right now from Paterson and thinking about soccer and thinking, ‘I have to leave to play,’” he continued. “To have it close to home, that’s opportunity. That’s hope. For a young player, there’s a chance for me to learn here, be a pro here and then from there, maybe go to Europe. It’s a pathway that has never existed here, and it’s going to be something special.”

Angulo ended his playing career in 2021 and 18 months ago, he helped organize (and coach) an exhibition match between an ad hoc team of local players and traditional Ecuadorian powerhouse Barcelona SC. The match attracted thousands to Hinchliffe, demonstrating locals’ love for the game and the venue’s soccer potential, not to mention Angulo’s administrative acumen. He’ll now be charged with funneling players toward Hinchliffe full-time.

Angulo is already on the job, scouting and identifying potential prospects while strengthening the sort of personal and organizational relationships that create genuine community and opportunity. In early August, he took some time to answer a few questions about his new position and his hopes and plans for the Cosmos as the 2026 season approaches.

What inspired you to take this position with the Cosmos and to dedicate your post-playing career to this kind of work?

JA: I’d like to think that all of these things that I’ve seen and been through starting from a young age kind of led to this. There’s a formula that’s been common around the world for 100 years. You go to South America, and it’s the normal way of doing things: you find young players from your town, your area, and you build them up.

But here in America, it’s like they’ve gone the opposite route. You want to get the two or three big stars, and that’s how you’re selling out games but you’re not connected as much to the community. With what we’re doing here, it’s something that’s never really been done before in this country: a team of mostly local guys and a lot of talented players in the area who have fallen through the cracks. I think my job is identifying those guys that aren’t getting a chance but can maybe compete at that level. It’s to help the team win and compete, but also stay financially stable.

Can you tell us more about how you’ll tackle the role?

JA: We’re going to scour the Tri-State area for players, from the age of 14-15 to the pro level. If you’re good and you’re in the area, we’re most likely going to see you at some point. It’s a mixture of leads and conversations, but it’s also just going to games. For example, I was able to go to some NPSL and UPSL games this summer, and I’m the only one there. I’m the only one watching these players at this level. There’s no scouts, nothing.

It comes to a point where these players, people just stop looking at them. Even if you look at MLS Next, where you’ve got younger players, all you see is college guys there. So it’s a wide-open market that’s not being explored. I’m out here by myself just sitting at these games. Nobody knows who I am. It brings me back to being young and my Dad saying, “You don’t know who’s watching.” I’m that guy now. I’m the one watching. It doesn’t matter the level. I’ll stumble onto a game at a park and I’ll watch. You never know.

It’s using all avenues. There’s no one way. Sometimes I do research on a guy to see what’s up. Sometimes I get in the car. I’ll get in touch with someone the player knows to see about their character, their personality. I’ll have somebody I trust give me feedback. Or I’ll get in my car and go see them in person. It’s a bit of everything.

Why isn’t this a more common approach?

JA: It’s a bit old school. Wyscout isn’t going to find you this player. You need to be in an area where there’s talent that nobody’s really watching, and I would say you need expert eyes. It takes an understanding of the landscape—understanding what the game is here, and also filtering out the money grabs.

There’s a lot of pro combines. Is there really talent there, or is it whoever pays the $150 for two days? It’s knowing the landscape and filtering out who’s doing it right, who’s doing it wrong, and getting into these communities—literally on the ground in these communities and the inner city. There’s players there, and we’re trying to do something in this area that nobody’s done before.

It obviously helps to have grown up here. A lot of the guys I’m meeting with who run this club or that club, they’re all guys I know about or I’ve seen before. I’m coming in with these existing contacts and then strengthening them.

How will this ultimately shape the squad that finally takes the field next year?

JA: It’s about finding the right balance of players who can help you in the now, but also kind of giving knowledge to these young players coming up. You don’t want young players playing against young players every day, because who’s learning from who? It’s finding a balance between more experienced pros in the area—and they’re here—just identifying those guys and bringing in a balanced roster to help these young players as well.

Eventually one or two can get sold here, sold there. I think that’s down the line. For now, it’s just identifying a lot of guys this year. These things take time.

To wrap up, can you share your best, only-in-North Jersey soccer story?

JA: It was my first day of school at St. Benedict’s. This is my freshman year. My father tells me that one of his former teammates from Colombia wants to put his son in school in New Jersey, so he’s here in Jersey and we’re going to show him the school.

When I get in the car I see a guy with all this hair and it’s like, is this guy wearing a Valderrama wig? He turns around and it’s Carlos Valderrama! And yeah we walked into St. Benedict’s Prep, which is like an old school, inner-city school. It’s all brick and in the middle of Newark. It’s kind of like Paterson—very similar city. And Valderrama walks in and you see all the soccer players from St. Benedict’s just turn around and say, “What?” That was a fun story.

A kiss, a crest and five decades of Cosmos continuity — tracing the history of one legendary club 

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The shape of the tarnish on the trophy’s bowl is unmistakable. It’s a pair of lips—a single kiss perfectly preserved—somehow burned or branded onto the shimmering silver. 

Tom Larsen was stunned when he saw it. Because of some slight damage to the base, the Soccer Bowl ’77 trophy wasn’t displayed alongside its counterparts at Mediacom’s New York headquarters. It had been carefully preserved, however, and placed in a climate-controlled storage facility, because the importance of the New York Cosmos’ second NASL trophy also was unmistakeable. It was earned in the great Pelé’s last competitive match, a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders in Portland, Ore. 

Although that final was played nearly 50 years ago, it still resonates. So much so that FIFA, as it compiled a wish list for the Miami museum it plans to open before the 2026 World Cup, contacted Mediacom and asked to borrow the trophy. 

“They said, ‘We would love to do a space on Pelé and that’s the last trophy he ever won,’” recalled Larsen, Mediacom’s senior VP and general counsel. “That just shows you how important the Cosmos still are and how even internationally, they matter to people.” 

Mediacom and its founder and chairman, Rocco B. Commisso, had owned the Cosmos since early 2017. But Larsen hadn’t noticed the tarnish until the trophy was retrieved from storage last winter. It quickly brought to mind a widely-circulated, black-and-white photo of Pelé and Cosmos teammate Werner Roth carrying the trophy upon their triumphant return to JFK Airport. Sure enough, there’s El Rey, front and center in what appears to be a stylish white linen suit, planting an enthusiastic kiss on the cup. 

“Clearly, the lips are Pele’s. You can see in the photo, the kiss is in the exact spot,” Larsen exclaimed. “We put it in the contract with FIFA: you can’t polish this! The historic value of the kiss is what makes it unique.” 

How did the tarnish happen? What might’ve been on Pelé´s lips? Was it chemistry, or perhaps something less scientific? It’s impossible to know a half century later. But there they are, clearly imprinted on the metal, a genuine American soccer relic. Pelé’s legend, and the lore surrounding that once-in-a-lifetime Cosmos team and a unique era in the domestic game’s meandering history, continues to grow. 

A soccer club obviously exists to play the sport. That’s its primary function. But over time, a club often becomes about more than athletes and supporters, wins and losses, tickets and transfers. 

We see it every time a goal scorer kisses the badge on their jersey. We see it when fans of teams like Atlético Madrid, Leeds United, the Chicago Fire and so many more fight to preserve a logo that became a symbol of community and shared history. The word “brand” may sound a bit corporate, but consider an original meaning: an identity burned permanently onto something. Crests and colors, history and tradition, old jerseys and trophies that kindle priceless memories—a kiss sealed in silver—these are also vital components of a club, as fundamental as a person’s name. 

That’s why so many stewards, from Commisso, Larsen and Mediacom to the renowned Peppe Pinton, have worked so diligently and invested so much to preserve the Cosmos’ brand and legacy. There were years when the Cosmos haven’t played soccer. But from its 1971 founding to its record eighth championship in 2016 and beyond, it’s always been a soccer club. 

“The continuity of the club is clearly defined,” said Erik Stover, who ran the Cosmos during their NASL 2.0 era and will serve as CEO when they return to the Hinchliffe Stadium pitch in Paterson, NJ, in 2026. “We know who owned the club and when, and all of those people who maintained the trademarks and fielded teams and believed in the ideal of the Cosmos. 

“It’s a uniquely American soccer story in that there are big gaps when they didn’t play,” Stover continued. “In the late ‘80s through the early 2000s, Peppe Pinton spent a lot of his own money keeping the dream of the Cosmos alive, keeping the club active by selling merchandise and doing camps and clinics. And that effort has been consistent throughout the last 50 years.” 

Pinton, who still lives in Northern New Jersey, was a colleague and friend of Cosmos legend Giorgio Chinaglia. The Italian striker had taken majority control of the club from Warner Communications in 1984, shortly after concluding his glittering playing career. The original NASL then shut down in 1985, and Chinaglia subsequently transferred ownership and control of the Cosmos’ assets to Pinton, then the club’s general manager. Over the next quarter century, Pinton dutifully kept the Cosmos alive, maintaining the trademarks, running his Cosmos Soccer Camps (which still exist) and dreaming of a return to professional play. 

“He’s the person that saved the brand from its death,” Larsen said. 

Pinton finally parted with the Cosmos in 2011, selling the club to a consortium fronted by English businessman Paul Kemsley. He then sold it to a group led by English sports marketing executive Seamus O’Brien later that year. The American pro soccer landscape had shifted considerably by that point, and the advent of the second NASL ensured the Cosmos could join a league that guaranteed their independence. The stars finally aligned for a return to competition, and the long hiatus ended with a sixth championship in 2013. 

The on-field success reflected the Cosmos’ legacy. In Raúl González and Marcos Senna, the club showcased the brilliant and charismatic imports for which it was famous. But with the likes of Carlos Mendes and Danny Szetela, among others, the Cosmos also fielded the sort of local and domestic talent which has always been a critical and treasured part of their identity. 

Additional NASL titles were claimed in 2015 and 2016 and multiple MLS foes were vanquished in the U.S. Open Cup. But a club isn’t just players and games, and what transpires off the field matters, too. The NASL was struggling, and the Cosmos, after playing in Nassau County and Brooklyn, still lacked a permanent home.  

The Cosmos were running out of time when Commisso, a long-time soccer fan who played for Columbia University in 1967-70, stepped in and purchased the team in early 2017. But when U.S. Soccer stripped the NASL of its sanctioning during the ensuing campaign, the Cosmos were adrift once again. 

Apart from a handful of games contested as part of a National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) tournament in fall 2020, the Cosmos haven’t played since. But the club endured. Like his Italian-American compatriot, Pinton, Commisso desperately wanted to see the Cosmos back on the field. But he had to ensure that field was a fair and level one, so he began backing the NASL’s antitrust suit against U.S. Soccer and MLS in fall 2017. 

Meanwhile, Larsen and his colleagues have been keeping the Cosmos’ heart beating. Through May of last year, he stayed active on the NISA board while the club remained a dues-paying member. NISA operated as a third division pro league from 2021 through 2024. The Cosmos logo retained its value. International outfitters like Admiral and TOFFS utilized deals with the club to create and sell thousands of branded items, while the Cosmos maintained a local presence through a jersey distribution arrangement with a Westchester County, NY, soccer shop. Larsen led the protection and defense of the trademark against counterfeiters and unlicensed users, and Pinton continued running his Cosmos soccer camps with the blessing of club ownership. 

“We did a lot. We were busy. We were really working at building the Cosmos brand and protecting it at the same time. That’s not putting a team on the field, but it was working toward that goal,” Larsen said. 

“At the same time, I was always looking for a potential buyer,” he continued. “I didn’t want Rocco’s legacy to be the last owner of the Cosmos. He bought them to save them, to keep the brand alive. In his heart, he wanted the club to play again. But he also didn’t want to put the brand in the hands of someone who started it and then failed. It was important to find an owner that had the business plan in place to make this thing a going concern, that could survive.” 

Re-enter Stover, who maintained a relationship with Larsen over the years. Stover, the New York Red Bulls’ managing director before running the Cosmos, returned to New Jersey after a stint in Denmark and reconnected with former colleague Baye Adofo-Wilson, a real estate developer and attorney who had been Deputy Mayor of Newark in 2014-17. Adofo-Wilson, a Paterson native, was spearheading a $110 million project anchored by the renovation and refurbishment of Hinchliffe Stadium, an historic venue that once housed Negro League baseball teams and stood just a few hundred feet from the famous Paterson Great Falls. 

“He had the vision that soccer would probably be the most popular sport in the stadium,” Stover said of Adofo-Wilson, now the Cosmos chairperson. “It is the only stadium of its type in the New York metropolitan area and it’s perfectly situated to build a club around.” 

Those were the ingredients Commisso and Larsen were seeking—the sort of permanent home and foundation that the Cosmos, despite all their assets, never established. Larsen reached out to Stover in early 2025 and the deal to sell the club to Adofo-Wilson’s North Jersey Pro Soccer group was quickly hammered out. Commisso retained a minority share in the team he rescued eight years earlier. 

“We took our time with respect to the team kicking the ball on the field. We took the time to find the right buyer. We found the right buyer. I think Paterson is a phenomenal landing spot—the [current Negro League baseball and future Cosmos] museum, the stadium renovation, the size of the field, the fact it’s got the falls, the view of the New York City skyline,” Larsen said. 

“The city is 100% behind this project and they’ve put their money into it,” he continued. ”The fact that Baye is a Paterson native and invested in making Paterson a great city again, and building a club that’s a reflection of the neighborhood and giving kids a place and a pathway, all that stuff is amazing, and that’s why I think we found the right place. But that part took time, and that was continuous with all the other stuff we did to keep the brand alive.” 

The museum Larsen mentioned will be constructed at Hinchliffe and will feature some of the thousands of items that Pinton, Stover, Commisso and others have saved across the decades (as well as that 1977 trophy once it’s returned by FIFA). Club museums aren’t uncommon elsewhere. Many understand intuitively that preserving the tangible trappings of the game, and memorializing the players, moments and memories that mean so much to fans and the surrounding community, can be as much a part of the sport as scoring goals. It matters. It creates a thread that can be traced through seasons and generations. 

For the Cosmos, the most iconic club and brand in U.S. soccer history, that thread has remained intact from the moment founder Clive Toye conjured the name. There have been twists and turns, triumphs and troubles, but the full realization of the club’s mission now is finally at hand. And it has a home address. 

The Cosmos will field a professional women’s team for the first time in the coming years, and with Vice Chairman and Head of Soccer Giuseppe Rossi on board, the club will be committed to developing and promoting local talent once its USL League One schedule kicks off in 2026.  

“Cosmos” is short for “Cosmopolitan”, and the brand has always been about uniting diverse people in celebration of soccer. Like Pele’s silver kiss, neither the mission, nor that legendary logo, ever faded away. 

“Clive built the club one neighborhood at a time, and he was using soccer to pull different communities together around this club. Part of the club’s legacy is to be diverse and inclusive and that was at the core of the Cosmos when it was founded,” Stover said of Toye and the early ‘70s origins. “We’re doing exactly the same thing.” 

The New York Cosmos are back. Renowned soccer club will retake the field in 2026 at historic Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ 

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  • Under new majority owner Baye Adofo-Wilson, a Paterson native, Cosmos will compete in USL League One 
  • Former Italian national team star and North Jersey native Giuseppe Rossi is a club investor and its Head of Soccer 
  • The club will field a women’s pro team in the near future and will focus on youth development as part of deep commitment to Paterson, Passaic County and North Jersey communities 

PATERSON, NJ (July 10, 2025) — The famed New York Cosmos are returning to the field—and returning to North Jersey—in early 2026. 

The Cosmos will return to competition for the 2026 season and compete in USL League One, a growing league in the third tier of the U.S. professional soccer pyramid. The Cosmos’ new home will be Hinchliffe Stadium, a National Historic Landmark in Paterson, NJ. Hinchliffe Stadium once was home to Negro League baseball teams like the New York Black Yankees, the New York Cubans and the Newark Eagles. Twenty members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame played at Hinchliffe Stadium, including Paterson’s own Larry Doby. 

Hinchliffe Stadium was renovated, restored and reopened in 2023 as a 7,800-seat, multi-sport venue that anchors a $110 million initiative which includes senior housing, a child care facility, the Muth Museum dedicated to Negro League Baseball and a parking garage. Hinchliffe Stadium also will be home to the Cosmos’ first women’s team, as well as a soccer museum dedicated to Cosmos history. 

“Hinchliffe Stadium is an economic driver for the region,” said Mr. Adofo-Wilson, a Paterson native who is the co-owner/developer of Hinchliffe Stadium and the new majority owner and Chairperson of the Cosmos. “Bringing the Cosmos to Hinchliffe Stadium will give us an additional anchor for Hinchliffe Stadium, the City of Paterson and North Jersey. It will also give young people in our region the opportunity to watch exciting, affordable professional sports in their backyard.” 

“Since acquiring the New York Cosmos in 2017, our primary goal has always been to preserve the rich history of America’s most iconic soccer club,” said Thomas Larsen, the Cosmos’ previous general manager. “It is extremely gratifying to know that new generations of fans will be able to experience the excitement of Cosmos soccer at a revitalized venue overlooking the New York City skyline and within a league structure that rewards on-the-field success through promotion and relegation.” 

The Cosmos last played in New Jersey from 1977 through 1984, when the likes of Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia helped draw massive crowds to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. 

“As we stand just three days away from the FIFA Club World Cup final, a little over two weeks away from the Premier League Summer Series, and look ahead to the excitement that awaits us in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there’s no better time or place to announce the return of the New York Cosmos to Northern New Jersey,” Governor Phil Murphy said. “I am thankful to all of the wonderful leaders and our partners in the legislature whose support makes moments like these possible. From national championship winning teams to global soccer events and the rebirth of storied clubs, together we are quickly transforming New Jersey into the soccer capital of the world.” 

Mr. Adofo-Wilson will be joined on the club’s board by Vice Chairman and Head of Soccer Giuseppe Rossi, a product of nearby Clifton, NJ, who starred for Villarreal, Fiorentina and the Italian national team before ending a long and successful playing career in 2023. Sapna Shah, a New York-based entrepreneur and angel investor whose work with Red Giraffe Advisors focuses on sports organizations with minority founders, also lends her expertise.  

The club’s day-to-day operations will be managed by CEO Erik Stover, an award-winning sports executive who served as the Cosmos’ chief operating officer for nearly a decade (2012-21). Mr. Stover is a long-time North Jersey resident and his professional ties to the region include stints as managing director of the New York Red Bulls (2008-11) and assistant VP, operations of Giants Stadium (2000-05). 

The Cosmos’ Paterson era will be defined by proactive commitment to the community and a mission to embody the ambition and diversity of Passaic County and North Jersey, one of the country’s most cosmopolitan and talent-rich regions. Under Mr. Rossi’s direction, the club intends to prioritize youth player development, while championing inclusivity and access in and around Hinchliffe Stadium and across the American soccer landscape. 

“I grew up here and I still play here. There’s talent everywhere and many of these kids have great potential but aren’t getting a real chance like they would in other footballing nations,” Mr. Rossi said. “One of our goals is to give those young men and women an opportunity to sign a professional contract and to develop in a first-class environment.” 

“In anticipation of the World Cup returning to the United States next year, we are profoundly proud to announce the arrival of the most famous American soccer club to Paterson,” Mayor  André Sayegh said. “The New York Cosmos once featured the greatest player of all time, Pelé, and energized Giants Stadium for years. Now, the team will have the same impact on the historic Hinchliffe Stadium.”  

In conjunction with next year’s return to competition, the Cosmos will sport a refreshed version of the iconic blade-and-ball logo conceived in 1971 by artist Wayland Moore (with colors chosen by founding General Manager Clive Toye). Unveiled July 10, the modernized badge remains unmistakably Cosmos and was designed by Mark Jenkinson and Shawn Francis. The Cosmos’ uniforms and training gear will be introduced in the months to come. They’ll be produced in partnership with New York City’s Capelli Sports. 

North Jersey Pro Soccer has acquired the Cosmos’ intellectual and physical property, history and heritage from New York Cosmos LLC, an entity controlled by Rocco B. Commisso since January 2017. New York Cosmos LLC will retain a minority ownership stake in the club.  

The Cosmos will accept membership deposits beginning July 11. 

Los New York Cosmos regresan. El conocido club de fútbol volverá a la cancha en 2026 en el histórico Hinchliffe Stadium de Paterson, Nueva Jersey

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• Bajo el nuevo propietario mayoritario Baye Adofo-Wilson, nativo de Paterson, los Cosmos competirán en la USL League One

• Giuseppe Rossi, ex estrella de la selección nacional italiana y nativo del norte de Jersey, es un inversionista del club y su director de fútbol

• El club presentará un equipo profesional femenino en un futuro y se centrará en el desarrollo juvenil como parte de un profundo compromiso con las comunidades de Paterson, el condado de Passaic y el norte de Nueva Jersey

PATERSON, Nueva Jersey (10 de julio 2025) — Los famosos New York Cosmos regresarán a la cancha y al norte de Nueva Jersey a principios del 2026.

Los Cosmos volverá a competir en marzo de 2026 como nuevo miembro de la USL (United Soccer League) League One, la segunda división de la creciente pirámide masculino de la USL. El nuevo estadio de los Cosmos será Hinchliffe Stadium, una sede que es Monumental e Histórico Nacional en Paterson, Nueva Jersey. El Hinchliffe Stadium fue sede de equipos de béisbol de la Negro League como los New York Black Yankees, New York Cubans y Newark Eagles. Veinte miembros del Salón de la Fama del Béisbol Nacional jugaron en el Hinchliffe Stadium, incluyendo al propio Larry Doby, de Paterson.

El Hinchliffe Stadium fue renovado, restaurado y reinaugurado en 2023 como una sede multideportivo con capacidad para 7,800 personas, un lugar de iniciativa de 110 millones de dólares que incluye viviendas para personas mayores, un centro de cuidado infantil, el Museo Muth dedicado a la Negro League de Béisbol y un estacionamiento. El Hinchliffe Stadium también será la sede para el primer equipo femenino de los Cosmos, así como un museo de fútbol dedicado a la historia del equipo.

“El Hinchliffe Stadium es un motor económico para la región,” afirmó el Sr. Adofo-Wilson, oriundo de Paterson, propietario y promotor del Hinchliffe Stadium, además de ser el nuevo propietario mayoritario y presidente de los Cosmos. “Traer los Cosmos al Hinchliffe Stadium nos dará un nuevo impulso para el estadio mismo, la ciudad de Paterson y el norte de Nueva Jersey. También brindará a los jóvenes de nuestra región la oportunidad de disfrutar de deportes profesionales emocionantes y asequibles en su propio vecindario.”

“Después de adquirir a los New York Cosmos en 2017, nuestro principal objetivo siempre ha sido preservar la rica historia del club de fútbol más conocido de los Estados Unidos,” declaró Thomas Larsen, exgerente general de los Cosmos. “Es sumamente gratificante saber que las nuevas generaciones de aficionados podrán vivir la emoción del fútbol de los Cosmos en un estadio renovado con vistas al horizonte de la ciudad de Nueva York y dentro de una estructura de liga que premia el éxito en la cancha mediante ascensos y descensos.”

La última vez que los Cosmos jugaron en Nueva Jersey fue de 1977 al 1984 cuando jugadores como Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer y Giorgio Chinaglia ayudaron a atraer multitudes de espectadores al Giants Stadium en East Rutherford.

“A solo tres días de la final de la Copa Mundial de Clubes FIFA, a poco más de dos semanas de la serie de partidos de verano de la Premier League y con la vista puesta en la emoción que nos espera en la Copa Mundial de FIFA 2026, no hay mejor momento ni lugar para anunciar el regreso de los New York Cosmos al norte de Nueva Jersey,” declaró el gobernador de estado, Phil Murphy. “Agradezco a todos los maravillosos líderes y a nuestros socios en la legislatura, cuyo apoyo hace posibles momentos como este. Desde equipos ganadores de campeonatos nacionales hasta eventos futbolísticos mundiales y el renacimiento de clubes históricos, juntos estamos transformando rápidamente a Nueva Jersey en la capital mundial del fútbol.”

El Sr. Adofo-Wilson estará acompañado en la junta directiva del club por el vicepresidente y director de fútbol Giuseppe Rossi, originario de Clifton, Nueva Jersey, quien brilló en el Villarreal, la Fiorentina y la selección italiana antes de terminar una larga y exitosa carrera como jugador en 2023. Sapna Shah, una emprendedora e inversionista ángel radicada en Nueva York cuyo trabajo con Red Giraffe Advisors se centra en organizaciones deportivas con fundadores minoritarios, también aporta su experiencia.

Las operaciones de día-a-día del club estarán a cargo del director ejecutivo Erik Stover, un galardonado ejecutivo deportivo que fue director de operaciones de los Cosmos durante casi una década (2012-2021). El Sr. Stover reside desde hace mucho tiempo en el norte de Nueva Jersey y sus vínculos profesionales con la región incluyen puestos como director general de los New York Red Bulls (2008-2011) y vicepresidente adjunto de operaciones del Giants Stadium (2000-2005).

La era de los Cosmos en Paterson se definirá por su compromiso proactivo con la comunidad y su misión de representar la ambición y la diversidad del condado de Passaic y el norte de Nueva Jersey, una de las regiones más cosmopolitas y con mayor talento del país. Bajo la dirección del Sr. Rossi, el club dará el desarrollo a los jugadores jóvenes, a la vez que promueve la inclusión y el acceso en el Hinchliffe Stadium y sus alrededores, así como en todo el panorama futbolístico estadounidense.

“Crecí aquí y sigo jugando aquí. Hay talento por todas partes y muchos de estos jóvenes tienen un gran potencial, pero no tienen la oportunidad real que tendrían en otros países futbolísticos,” dijo el Sr. Rossi. “Uno de nuestros objetivos es darles a estos jóvenes la oportunidad de firmar un contrato profesional y desarrollarse en un ambiente de primer nivel.”

“Con la expectativa de la Copa Mundial regresando a los Estados Unidos el próximo año, nos enorgullece anunciar la llegada del club de fútbol estadounidense más famoso a Paterson,” declaró el alcalde de la ciudad, André Sayegh. “Los New York Cosmos en su día contó con el mejor jugador de todos los tiempos, Pelé, y llenó de energía el Giants Stadium durante años. Ahora, el equipo tendrá el mismo impacto en el histórico Hinchliffe Stadium.”

Con motivo del regreso a la competición el próximo año, los Cosmos lucirá una versión renovada del icónico logotipo, concebido en 1971 por el artista Wayland Moore (con colores elegidos por el director general fundador, Clive Toye). Presentado el 10 de julio, el escudo modernizado sigue siendo los Cosmos y fue diseñado por Mark Jenkinson y Shawn Francis. Los uniformes y la ropa

de entrenamiento de los Cosmos se presentarán en los próximos meses. Se producirán en colaboración con Capelli Sports de la ciudad de Nueva York.

North Jersey Pro Soccer ha adquirido la propiedad intelectual y física, la historia y el patrimonio de los New York Cosmos LLC, una entidad controlada por Rocco B. Commisso desde enero de 2017. New York Cosmos LLC conservará una participación minoritaria en el club.

Los Cosmos aceptarán depósitos de membresía a partir del 11 de julio.

North Jersey Pro Soccer (NJPS) names local legend and former Italian national team star Giuseppe Rossi as vice chairman and head of soccer 

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• Mr. Rossi will manage technical operations and personnel for the men’s pro team, which kicks off in spring 2026, and the future women’s pro team

• Mr. Rossi retired in 2023 and has returned to North Jersey to build a comprehensive player pathway designed to shepherd local talent to NJPS’s pro teams and beyond

PATERSON, NJ (July 8, 2025)—North Jersey Pro Soccer (NJPS) has named former Italian national team star and Passaic County product Giuseppe Rossi as the organization’s vice chairman and head of soccer. As the latter, Mr. Rossi will take charge of NJPS’s men’s and women’s professional teams and oversee the hiring of coaches and technical staff, as well as player identification, acquisition and development. 

Mr. Rossi, 38, also is an investor in NJPS, which is majority owned by Baye Adofo-Wilson, a Paterson, NJ, native, developer, attorney and former Deputy Mayor of Newark, NJ. NJPS will field a men’s team in USL League One beginning in spring 2026 and is planning to launch a women’s pro side in the coming years. Both teams will play at Hinchliffe Stadium, a refurbished 7,800-seat National Historic Landmark in downtown Paterson. 

“Giuseppe was a North Jersey kid who grew up in Clifton and dedicated himself to reaching the highest level,” Mr. Adofo-Wilson said. “He represents everything we want North Jersey Pro Soccer to be—a club that offers opportunities to the talented and ambitious young men and women, and boys and girls, of North Jersey and helps them embrace what’s possible.” 

Mr. Rossi is the son of Italian immigrants, Fernando and Cleonilde Rossi. He played youth soccer in Clifton and then at 12, moved with his father to Italy to join Parma’s academy. In 2004, Mr. Rossi launched his pro career at Manchester United. Over the next two decades, he played for multiple clubs in England, Spain, Italy and the U.S., enjoying outstanding spells at Villarreal and Fiorentina in particular. 

He scored in double digits for four straight seasons at Villarreal (2007-11), including a spectacular 32-goal haul in 2010-11 as El Submarino Amarillo finished fourth in La Liga and advanced to the UEFA Europa League semifinals. Mr. Rossi then scored 17 goals for Fiorentina in 2013-14. 

A lifelong dream to represent his parents’ homeland began coming true in 2003 with Italy’s U- 16 team. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Mr. Rossi led the tournament with four goals as Italy reached the quarterfinals. A couple months later, he earned the first of his 30 senior caps in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bulgaria. Mr. Rossi would go on to score seven goals for the Azzurri—including two against the U.S. in a memorable 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup match—and he captained Italy for the first time in November 2010. 

Everything was possible for the kid from Clifton. 

Mr. Rossi ended his playing career in 2023 and has returned to North Jersey to help cultivate the next generation of local talent. His native knowledge of the area, his vast experience at soccer’s pinnacle and his array of connections abroad make him the ideal choice to guide NJPS’s sporting operation. 

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to come home and build teams that represent North Jersey and connect this unique area to the world’s game. I was fortunate to have the contacts I needed to get started. Many players don’t, and too many fall through the cracks,” Mr. Rossi said. “We’re going to field winning teams with local talent, and we’re going to do it at an incredible stadium that I think is going to become an iconic American soccer venue.” 

NJPS intends to forge partnerships with area youth clubs that evolve into a comprehensive developmental infrastructure reminiscent of those found around the world. More information on those plans and partnerships will be released in the coming months. 

“We’re excited to bring Giuseppe aboard because we think there should be more Giuseppe Rossis. There’s so much potential here in North Jersey,” said NJPS CEO Erik Stover, who previously served as managing director of the New York Red Bulls and COO of the New York Cosmos. “He understands how soccer is supposed to work—how good players are identified and nurtured—and there’s no better place for him to start the next phase of his inspirational career.” 

NJPS plans to unveil its team branding on July 10 at Hinchliffe Stadium, and the club will begin accepting membership deposits on July 11. News regarding additional technical hires, including coaches, will be announced when appropriate. 

North Jersey Pro Soccer (NJPS) nombra a la leyenda local y ex estrella de la selección nacional italiana Giuseppe Rossi como vicepresidente y director de fútbo

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• Sr. Rossi administrará las operaciones técnicas y el personal del equipo profesional masculino, que comienza en la primavera del 2026, además un equipo femenino en el futuro.

• Sr. Rossi se retiró en 2023 y regresa al norte de Nueva Jersey para construir una ruta integral para jugadores diseñado para guiar a los talentos locales hacia los equipos profesionales de NJPS y más allá.

PATERSON, Nueva Jersey (8 de julio 2025)—North Jersey Pro Soccer (NJPS) nombro a Giuseppe Rossi, ex estrella de la selección nacional italiana y producto del condado de Passaic, como vicepresidente y director de fútbol de la organización. Como tal, el Sr. Rossi se hará cargo de los equipos profesionales masculino y femenino de la NJPS y supervisará la contratación de entrenadores y personal técnico, así como la identificación, adquisición y desarrollo de jugadores.

El Sr. Rossi, de 38 años, también es inversor en NJPS, que es propiedad mayoritaria de Baye Adofo-Wilson, originario de Paterson, Nueva Jersey, promotor inmobiliario, abogado y ex vicealcalde de Newark, N.J. El NJPS presentará un equipo masculino en la USL League One a partir de la primavera del 2026. El equipo profesional femenino comenzará en los próximos años. Ambos equipos jugarán en el Hinchliffe Stadium, un Monumento Histórico Nacional remodelado con capacidad para 7,500 personas en el centro de Paterson.

“Giuseppe era un chico del norte de Nueva Jersey que creció en Clifton y se dedicó a alcanzar el máximo nivel,” dijo el Sr. Adofo-Wilson. “Representa todo lo que queremos en North Jersey Pro Soccer – un club que ofrezca oportunidades a los jóvenes talentosos y ambiciosos del norte de Nueva Jersey, hombres y mujeres, niños, y les ayude a alcanzar sus posibilidades.”

El Sr. Rossi es hijo de inmigrantes italianos, Fernando y Cleonilde Rossi. Jugó fútbol juvenil en Clifton y, a los 12 años, se mudó con su padre a Italia para unirse a la academia del Parma. En 2004, el Sr. Rossi inició su carrera profesional en el Manchester United. Durante las dos próximas décadas, jugó en varios clubes de Inglaterra, España, Italia y Estados Unidos, destacando especialmente en el Villarreal y la Fiorentina.

Marcó dobles dígitos durante cuatro temporadas consecutivas con el Villarreal (2007-2011), incluyendo una espectacular marca de 32 goles en la campaña 2010-11, cuando El Submarino Amarillo terminó cuarto en La Liga y avanzó a las semifinales de la UEFA Europa League. Rossi marcó 17 goles con la Fiorentina en la temporada 2013-14.

El sueño de toda su vida de representar a la patria de sus padres comenzó a hacerse realidad en 2003 con la selección italiana sub-16. En los Juegos Olímpicos de Pekín 2008, el Sr. Rossi goledor del torneo con cuatro tantos, que llevaron a Italia a cuartos de final. Un par de meses después disputó el primero de sus 30 partidos con la selección absoluta en un partido eliminatorio para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA en Bulgaria. El Sr. Rossi anotaría siete goles con la Azzurri, incluyendo dos ante los Estados Unidos en un memorable partido de la Copa FIFA Confederaciones 2009, y también fue capitán de Italia por primera vez en noviembre del 2010.

Todo era posible para el chico de Clifton.

El Sr. Rossi finalizó su carrera como jugador en el 2023 y ha regresado al norte de Nueva Jersey para ayudar a cultivar la próxima generación de talento locales. Su conocimiento innato de la zona, su amplia experiencia en la élite del fútbol y sus múltiples contactos en el extranjero lo convierten en la opción ideal para dirigir las operaciones deportivas de NJPS.

“Estoy sumamente emocionado de volver a casa y formar equipos que representen al norte de Nueva Jersey y conecten esta zona única con el fútbol mundial. Tuve la suerte de contar con los contactos necesarios para empezar. Muchos jugadores no lo consiguen, y muchos se quedan atrás,” dijo el Sr. Rossi. “Vamos a presentar equipos ganadores con talento local, y lo haremos en un estadio increíble que creo que se convertirá en un estadio icónico del fútbol estadounidense.”

NJPS tiene la intención de formar alianzas con clubes juveniles de la zona que se conviertan en una infraestructura integral del desarrollo similar a las existentes en todo el mundo. En los próximos meses se publicará más información sobre estos planes y alianzas.

“Nos entusiasma la incorporación de Giuseppe porque creemos que debería haber más Giuseppe Rossis. Hay muchísimo potencial aquí en el norte de Nueva Jersey,” dijo Erik Stover, director ejecutivo de NJPS, quien anteriormente fue director general de los New York Red Bulls y director de operaciones de los New York Cosmos. “Él entiende cómo funciona el fútbol, cómo identificar y formar a los buenos jugadores, y no hay mejor lugar para que comience la siguiente etapa de su inspiradora carrera.”

NJPS planea presentar la imagen (marca) de su equipo el 10 de julio en el Hinchliffe Stadium, y el club comenzará a aceptar depósitos de membresía el 11 de julio. Noticias sobre nuevas contrataciones técnicas, incluyendo entrenadores, se anunciarán en un futuro.

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