The Cosmos, which were founded in 1971 and disbanded in 1985 when the old North American Soccer League went kaput, have not played an outdoor game in more than 20 years.
In their heyday, they featured legends such as Pele, Carlos Alberto, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Johan Neeskens, and their matches drew regular crowds of 50,000.
The Cosmos also boast five national titles.
"It's a big project, a wonderful project," Cantona said in a statement. "The Cosmos are very strong, beautifully made, with a great past. It's kind of a mix between football and art.
Cosmos officials have met, and will meet, with MLS officials about becoming the league's 20th team and a local rival to the Red Bulls. It is likely the club will form a partnership of some sort with the Wilpon family, which owns the Mets, in the hope of forging a deal to build a stadium in Queens.
A stadium deal is a prerequisite to joining MLS.
Cantona's name alone could attract some European players to the Cosmos, but will he be more hands-on or more of a figurehead? He will work with Cobi Jones, who was hired last week as the assistant director of soccer.
At any rate, the Cosmos are not looking for Eric - they have found him.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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