The Cosmos have invested in academies and the Copa NYC tournament, but don't yet have an actual team. Nevertheless, these kits are "inspired by the one worn by its star players in 1977, including Pelé, but with the performance benefits of a modern football shirt."
The shirt is priced at $75 and will be available in December.
Despite the annoying incongruity of there being gear but no team, I have to admit this stuff looks pretty good. Not sure I would buy the jersey, but never say never.
Full release below.
UMBRO SIGNS WORLDWIDE KIT DEAL WITH THE NEW YORK COSMOS
Umbro has today announced that it will be the leading kit supplier for the
newly reformed New York Cosmos soccer club, made famous in the 1970s as much
for their star-studded fans off the pitch as the players on the pitch.
One of the most famous players from The New York Cosmos¹ past and now its
Honorary President, Pelé, has spoken about his time with the team and his
hopes for the rebirth of the club, ³I am very happy to be involved with The
New York Cosmos again. I have the opportunity to come back and work to
revive the Cosmos and promote football in the United States. Now, I want to
see my dreams come true of kids learning football in the right way.²
It was 33 years to this exact day when Pelé played in the very last match of
his professional career. In celebration of this victorious day, and to
commemorate his upcoming 70th birthday on October 23rd, Pelé sits down for
an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo magazine. Speaking in the November
issue of the magazine, Pelé speaks about the excitement around the original
club, ³When we started to win, we had a really big bunch of names in the
crowd: movie stars, sports stars, pop stars, politicians, artistsS.Robert
Redford, Muhammad Ali and Mick Jagger all came. Andy Warhol, Elton John,
Henry Kissinger too every game, there was someone there. It was
fantastic.²
As part of the club¹s rebirth, Umbro has applied its celebrated
football-tailoring ethos to a new on-field performance and off-field
lifestyle line for The New York Cosmos club. The white home shirt, with the
unique green and yellow collar, will be available in December (£49/$75).
It¹s inspired by the one worn by its star players in 1977, including Pelé,
but with the performance benefits of a modern football shirt. The wider
range, including the green walkout jacket worn by Pelé on the cover of
FourFourTwo, will be available in February 2011 (£70/$100) with further
apparel and equipment pieces in the pipeline, all inspired by the legacy and
promise of The New York Cosmos.
Trevor Cairns, Chief Marketing Officer for Umbro International commented,
³Umbro was a partner of The New York Cosmos during the 1970s when they were
unquestionably the world¹s coolest football club. It¹s a great opportunity
to once again be involved with the club and we are committed to working with
them to develop world-class soccer players worthy to wear the legendary New
York Cosmos crest. From the reaction we¹ve had from the few people who¹ve
seen the line, we¹re confident it will become a modern day classic.²
Relaunched in August 2010, The New York Cosmos is committed to helping
improve the future of football with significant investment in grassroots and
youth football, and providing elite coaching philosophies and training
opportunities.
The New York Cosmos has already launched two elite youth academies, Cosmos
Academy East (in New York) and Cosmos Academy West (in Los Angeles) with
former Major League Soccer stars Giovanni Savarese and Teddy Chronopoulos
appointed as Academy Directors, respectively. Both academies participate in
the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Furthermore, The New York Cosmos has acquired the Copa NYC tournament, and
beyond running it every year in New York, they will be looking to expand it
both domestically and internationally in order to engage more local
communities to participate in the Oglobal game¹ at a grassroots level.
Paul Kemsley, Chairman of The New York Cosmos commented, ³We are excited
about our kit deal with Umbro namely because we both strongly embrace the
heritage of the beautiful game, and are excited about its future here in New
York City and throughout the United States. The New York Cosmos will be
much more than just a soccer club. The best way to describe it is a
movement, for the advancement of soccer across the world.²
The full interview with Pelé and the management team behind the club¹s
rebirth can be seen in the November issue of the UK edition of FourFourTwo
(on sale October 4th in the UK and mid-November in the US).
