To honor longtime great and recently retired Paul Scholes, Manchester United has scheduled a testimonial match for Aug. 5 at Old Trafford against the New York Cosmos.
That's right. The Cosmos team that has no senior roster and no league affiliation but has managed to make waves worldwide with its aggressive PR moves and star-studded front office.
According to the Manchester United club website, former United star and current Cosmos director of soccer Eric Cantona will coach the visiting side, which hasn't played a match in more than 25 years. Cantona and honorary club president Pele will invite star players from around the world to suit up for the match.
What do you think of the Cosmos getting the invite for the game? Whom do you hope to see play for the Cosmos?
Share your thoughts below.
Well said.
Why is the Emirates Cup important again?
And it was a Tuesday.
When they do join the league, and they will, I wonder what all the naysayers will say when the Cosmos get the 39K like there was in Queens last week (during two Gold Cup games and the NBA Finals…might I add).
Juventus and Club America will play in Citi Field coming this summer. I wonder why these games are popping up???
When given the choice between Cosmos and Red Bulls, everyone can see the easy choice for identity. But who do you blame for that? It’s pretty easy.
You’ll be surprised when you see who Pele can bring in for this match. When they field a huge team, where will the naysayers be?
This is a great idea and all the naysayers will essentially have to deal with their words when they see the massive success.
Another thought is that this is a great way to overshadow RBNY’s appearance in the August Emirates Cup. I love the idea of competition between the Cosmos and RBNY although if the Cosmos keep linking themselves with Manure I’ll have to drop them.
I never thought that Nike commercial – from 1998 where the world’s best players, led by Cantona, defeat the all-star demon squad – would become a reality. Now I get my wish. Thank you.
Sorry Omar, the phrase “making the ask” comes from my experience in fundraising for non-profits. I used it because that seems like what Cantona will be doing here – asking millionaires to donate their services for free.
By the way, my old high school girlfriend’s father pulled the REAL Omar Vizquel’s wisdom teeth when he played for the Mariners. True story.
Testimonial opponents are usually chosen by the retiring player, so what does Cantona have on Scholes to make him agree to this? It’s a great way to re-energize brand visibility, but what’s the follow up? Should be a nice stroll for some big names. Anyone guessing who will wear the Cosmos shirt? Maradona (probably not if Pele’s involved)? Figo? Maldini? Zidane? Ronaldo? What active players will they mix in? It would be hilarious if they invite TH14!
Agreed. This is just like almost any other charity match, an assembly of all star players suiting up under a common name. The fact that it’s branded Cosmos in no way make this a joke.
I think this is great. We will see a bunch of stars come together to pay tribute to one of the greatest ever, Paul Scholes.
“makes me wonder how many 15 year olds post here”
“simply misguided”
“Come on man”
“News flash for everybody”
“Wrap your brain around it”
And these quotes are taken from a post where he decries OTHER people for being arrogant?
FAIL!
It’s a brilliant marketing move by the Cosmos to show MLS that they have connections with clubs and players around the world. It’ll be hard for MLS to ignore things like this when they go to choose the 20th team. It’s not like the Galaxy was invited to play w/ Beckham as the honorary captain, and in many ways, they’re the glamour MLS franchise.
As for Scholes, as long as he plays a group of high profile players and the stadium is full, I doubt he will care what “team name” they organize as. Testimonials not only are goodbye games for great players, but they also are a bit of a retirement pension as the bulk of the money goes to the honored player.
And as the most marketable team in the world, Man United probably saw a game with the Cosmos as a big event to host since merchandise sales could be quite large. How often will fans be able to buy a t-shirt with both teams on it???
“With Cantona making the ask”
You mean, um, “asking”?
I’m already annoyed with the Cosmos whole United connections — Cantona, Terry Byrne (BFF of Beckham), etc. — and English bias. It’s an American “team,” but seems like some sort of British satellite company in its set-up and management.
I’m from NY and I take the train over to RBNY games in Harrison. I echo your sentiments. The RB fanbase is really fickle and slow to come around. I would hate the Cosmos to make that worse. Although, it appears Garber and many others believe that 2 NY teams is good for each other. I think that’s the likeliest outcome but who knows until they’re playing.
Harlem Globetrotters
The naivity and arrogance of some on this board absolutely astounds sometimes…makes me wonder how many 15 year-olds post here. Comments like “this is a joke” and “the match won’t be much fun to watch” are simply misguided. Does anybody really think Cantona, former MAJOR ManU star, didn’t present a package that ManU would find appealing. And does anybody think that a club with the stature and world prominence of ManU would take on a game that they thought would be a “joke?!?” As the ESPN show goes…”Come on man!”
News flash for everybody…the NY Cosmos WILL HAPPEN in MLS, sooner rather than later. Wrap your brain around it and accept it. That club is putting ALL of its ducks in a row, from youth development to financial backing to a competent front office and PR campaign. They’re not stupid. Like it or not, they are an iconic American soccer club. They will also provide a fantastic rivalry in the NY/NJ area that will only benefit MLS in the long run.
He has a chance to play against (and perhaps with) the best the world has to offer.
What an ignorant statement. Who would you rather play: an all star team of true legends or the second team of Juve which is what Neville got.
These games are for F-U-N, he’s not going to care who it’s against.
And everyone out here is making it seem like a testimonial has never been played against an all-star team. Newsflash: has happened before.
Euro snobs and American ignorant are in the same group of “go read and go see the world”.
That crazymike… might need to start looking at a change name to “sanemike”.
As much as people on her go on about “euro snobs”, there are some ignorant US-based folks here who have no idea how the rest of the world works.
This is a charity event, as are all testimonials, it’s a chance for legends to get out on the pitch again, it’s all for fun, it’ll be good to see them all again, etc.
It’s called having fun. And there is more fun to be had than just MLS All-Star games against United…
Seriously, if they other team is imaginary who will he tackle?
Actually, I bet Scholes is pretty pumped to share the field in his last game with a bunch of players he respects and admires.
Absolutely fail to see how this is a joke.
They have “all star legend” games every year. This is largely for charity as all testimonials are.
This is being put together by two of the biggest names in soccer with connections all over the world.
This game has already sold out.
Who doesn’t love to see the greats strut themselves again?
This will help NY gain more attention which will help put soccer back in NY. This will also as an extension help MLS and US soccer.
Some posters on here are quite ignorant and blind. Blind leading the blind?
If I were Paul Scholes, I’d be insulted. “Way to go, lad. As a send off, your final match will be against an imaginary team from America.”
I’m surprised he’s not jetting to Brazil for Juninho’s wedding. Any excuse is a good one for Becks.
I think it’s a great marketing move by the Cosmos. With Cantona making the ask, they can get some big names on the roster. United doesn’t care who they play in a testimonial as long as it draws fans. The game won’t be much fun to watch, but it will put the Cosmos on the map in a way that no MLS team is – they will have played a match IN England.
I’m withy kpugs on this one. This Cosmos “team” is all image, and no substance — all sizzle, and no beef. It is nothing but a well-financed soccer academy with a great public relations strategy. The Cosmos were my soccer heroes way back when, but I’m not going to drop my support for RBNY now. I’m still not sold on the idea of a second NY-area team anyway. The risks of market-splitting far outweigh any possible benefits of a rivalry that will consist of just two games a year.
I guess Cantona’s involvement is paying off?
I don’t particularly care either way, and I suppose the opponent is far less important than the list of ManU luminaries who’ll be taking part. But given that Neville got Juve as the testimonial opponent, I’m a little surprised ManU couldn’t line up an actually existing team.
It will be a combination of international invitees and players from Cosmos Academy and Cosmos U23.
Can someone explain why they think this is a sham or money ploy? Assembling a team of the greatest players in the world to be led out by a coach who used to play alongside Scholes seems like a fitting tribute to one of the greatest English players of the Premier League era. I hope he invites a number of players with United connections and some of the best in the world who have admired and respected Scholes as opponents through the years. I bet we’ll see Xavi and Iniesta suit up for the Cosmos in this one, as they’ve gone on the record saying how much they looked up to him for the way he passes and moves off the ball. Now that’s a tribute…
FC Council of Wisdom!
Wonder if becks will ditch the Galaxy for this one also?
At this point I honestly want Detroit to get the 20th team. Let these guys have their traveling circus without damaging our league.
I hope they can convince Placido Domingo, Johnan Cruyff, Henry Kissinger and Louis Freeh to make a run out.
Le plane, le plane
ROLLEYES
Apparently, the once proud and mighty Manchester United Football Club will stoop to any level for money.
How Sad.
As much as I think I’d like to see the Cosmos back, I worry what would happen to the NYRB fan base. The club hasn’t always had consistent success at the gate, even with the new stadium, and if a big-name glamour club exists in the city, you’re probably left with the bulk of the support coming from New Jersey (which, as the Devils and Nets show, is not ideal for sports). The reemergence of the Cosmos would essentially relegate the Red Bulls to becoming a team more associated with New Jersey than New York, which would, unfortunately, downgrade their significance.
Just a bit of morbid observation from a DCU fan! As much as I despise you Pink Cows, I don’t want you going under on us, either. And that’s what I fear would happen should the Cosmos get an MLS franchise in NYC proper.
I’m dreading the Cosmos’ return because they are my heroes and yet I’m not going to abandon RBNY for them.
But as for the testimonial, what an extremely dumb idea. The Cosmos as an actual senior team DO NOT EXIST. This is a fact. Therefor whatever team the field, no matter how many stars are involved, STILL FAIL TO MEET THE DEFINITION OF A TEAM. Scholes deserves much better htan this. As much as I hate Beckham these days–including my hatred of his willingness to abandon the club that pays him $6.5 million–it would be much more meaningful to say have a Roy Keane XI play him instead of a bunch of random players pretending to be the Cosmos. Scholes deserves a testimonial, just not one this dumb.
I like it and I’m in the camp that is tired of the Cosmos endless PR with no actual product. If they weren’t calling themselves the Cosmos but were just assembling a bunch of superstars to play against Man Utd, would people be crying this much about how stupid it is?
Anyway, this will make the game somewhat intriguing to those of us that don’t care about Man Utd.
Also,
The Cosmos also has a very serious, well-organized development program in Queens from U-8 all the way up. Its not just the famous name or stars. They are building something, no question about it, and they will be a real force. Now I’m not sure how Scholes feels about facing a senior team that doesn’t formally exist, but the mere fact that Cosmos could pull off a date with ManU says a lot about the club that is being built.
if the stars align, a fat ronaldo appearance is quite likely for the cosmos (pun intended)
Couldn’t they just play against the team from VICTORY instead? Pele is still in great shape, and I’m sure Michael Caine, Sly Stallone, Co Prins, etc. would be happy to suit up.
…I mean, it makes about as much sense as the Cosmos
agree, 100%! what a joke.
I love it but am surprised a team of Man U’s class accepted it.
Shep Messing in goal. Say no more.
hahaha Who comes up with these ideas? ….more importantly, who buys into this crap?
People are so gullible it makes me worried for the future of football in this country.
This is so weirdly post-modern.
So harsh. I think it is genius, and I bet they get some stars out for the game.
i hear Mike Grella is gonna be the leading star on this Cosmos team
sounds like the dumbest idea ever. maybe they can get Bugs Bunny’s team from ‘Space Jam’ to play in the NBA All-Star Game next year.