New York Cosmos Present Mangano With Championship Trophy

The New York Cosmos presented Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and New York State Senator Jack Martins with the 2013 North American Soccer League (NASL) Championship Trophy at a press conference earlier today in Mineola. The presentation was made by New York Cosmos Chief Operating Officer Erik Stover; Cosmos Head Coach Giovanni Savarese; and the entire New York Cosmos team, including Captain Carlos Mendes and Midfielder Marcos Senna.

The New York Cosmos began play in 1971, spending 14 seasons in the North American Soccer League, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer to the USA. This included Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto.

It had been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer club, played in a professional league. Yet throughout their absence, the club maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following. On June 6th, 2013, Nassau County Executive Mangano officially opened the New York Cosmos new practice facility at Mitchel Field. This official opening marked County Executive Mangano’s third successful public-private partnership for the County’s park system.

On August 3, 2013, the New York Cosmos returned to the NASL with a sell-out win at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium, before embarking on a season that would see the Cosmos win the 2013 North American Soccer League Fall Season. The club closed out its inaugural season by winning the 2013 Soccer Bowl with a 1-0 victory against the Atlanta Silverbacks on Nov. 9, 2013 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, Atlanta, GA. The championship is the sixth NASL title in the club’s history.