Franz Beckenbauer

Signed by the Cosmos in the wake of their legendary 1977 championship season, Rick Davis quickly became a fan favorite and the face of American soccer, winning three NASL titles before leaving the Cosmos in 1984. Davis was capped 36 times with the US men’s national team and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.

When the Cosmos return to league play on Aug. 3, they will face a familiar foe at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. The Strikers were born in 1977 and they had many memorable contests playing in their famous red and gold hoops against the Cosmos before the franchise left Ft. Lauderdale after the 1983 NASL season. “We always had good competition against Ft. Lauderdale,” legendary Cosmos defender Werner Roth said. “It was always a special game.”

Shep Messing was a flamboyant goalkeeper for The New York Cosmos for two stints in the 1970's. He became an instant New York City star alongside the likes of Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, and Giorgio Chinaglia during the 1977 championship season. Shep went on to become one of the greatest American goalkeepers of his generation and is now one of the country's leading so...

By Miriti Murungi from Nutmeg Radio