PELÉ CELEBRATES NY COSMOS HOME OPENER
Also Appearing Were Former Cosmos Teammate Shep Messing, Current Cosmos Star Marcos Senna and Mitchell Modell to Greet Soccer Fans and Media in Advance of Team’s Home Opener Against Tampa Bay.
The world’s greatest soccer player Pelé met with soccer fans and media Thursday at Modell’s Sporting Goods in Times Square to discuss his legendary career, his time with the New York Cosmos and his thoughts on soccer in America. He was joined by former teammate and goalkeeper Shep Messing as well as current player Marcos Senna and CEO of Modell’s Mitchell Modell to promote Saturday’s Cosmos’ home opener against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
“Being here today has brought back fond memories for me of the New York Cosmos,” Pelé said. “It has been nearly 40 years since I last played here, and it’s wonderful to see this kind of of love from the fans and the New York community, as well as the growth and success of American soccer.”
Cosmos officials awarded the first 50 fans at Modell’s with tickets to the home opener.
The world’s most decorated soccer player of all-time, the Brazilian Pelé made his New York Cosmos debut in 1975. He led the Cosmos to the North American Soccer League (NASL) championship in his third and final season. Prior to the Cosmos, Pelé played with just one other club, Santos FC, and also won three World Cup titles for Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970).
“We’re very excited to create a partnership with the New York Cosmos and it’s amazing to have a soccer legend like Pelé in our Flagship location to give fans this once-in-a-lifetime experience,’’ Mitchell Modell said.
Messing, a member of the 1972 U.S. Summer Olympic squad, played for the Cosmos in 1973-74. The gifted goalkeeper returned to the Cosmos in 1976 and was a teammate with Pelé on the 1977 championship team. Today, Messing is a New York Cosmos TV analyst on ONE World Sports.
Midfielder Senna, recognized for his accurate passing expertise and dead ball precision, is currently one of the leaders for the NASL Cosmos who will take a 1-0-1 record into Saturday’s home opener at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium in Hempstead.
