With Pele as Honorary President, Giorgio Chinaglia as International Ambassador and Cobi Jones as Associate Director of Soccer and Ambassador, the New York Cosmos continue to build their collection of legendary (well, mostly legendary) footballers in suits by adding Eric Cantona as Director of Soccer.
You may remember Cantona from his entertaining playing career or maybe his only managerial stint with the France beach football team or, most recently, his failed attempt to spark a revolution by telling people to take all their money out of the banks. So what will Cantona be doing? From the Cosmos press release:
Together, Cantona and Jones will carry forth the club’s legacy and integrity while developing and attracting world-class soccer talent from all areas of the globe.
Says Cantona:
“I am very honored to join the legendary club New York Cosmos. It’s a big project, a wonderful project. The Cosmos are very strong, beautifully made, with a great past. It’s kind of a mix between football and art. I will do everything that I can to help us first find our way to regain the #1 position in the United States, and then for us to become one of the best clubs in the world over the coming years.”
The Cosmos as a mix between football and art? Exactly. In addition to the involvement of these eccentric former players, the Cosmos have actual football business men in former Spurs Vice Chairman Paul Kemsley as Chairman, with former Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry and David Beckham's ex-manager Terry Byrne on the board of directors. Yet, they have no professional team, nor any guarantee of a spot in MLS.
Granted, MLS commissioner Don Garber has repeatedly declared his desire to add a second New York team in the next few years and if he has any sense he would most certainly want to gobble up all this star power and buzz. But for now, the Cosmos really do look like some kind of performance art. A dazzling array of names, intentions and beautiful Umbro merchandise, and still no professional team.
Still, Eric Cantona once again has a throne, this time in New York. And that's pretty cool.
Pictured: Eric Cantona doing pretty much everything his new job entails at the moment.
Drea de Matteo Trista Rehn Moon Bloodgood Kristin Kreuk Molly Sims
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