Da tifoso laziale non posso che ringraziarti.I

Indeed they were Lucille! This video brings back some truly great memories. I'm 58 now, and remember the thrills seeing Pele's first debut game at Randall Island stadium, and then having Cosmos season tix for every year they played in East Rutherford! My father was a huge soccer fan who emigrated here from abroad, and he lived for taking his 3 sons (us!) to the Cosmos games. He always talked about how soccer would become popular in the USA, and cried when Giants Stadium was filled to capacity after The Cosmos became very popular. My father passed at age 85 in 2015. Dad, wherever you are... I love you forever, and thanks for the great times!

Greetings from Canada! "Soccer Camps of America"...... I share your happy memories. In the summer of '83 my parents drove me from Kingston, Ontario to Manhattanville College in White Plains, NY for 2 weeks at the Hubert Birkenmeier Goalkeeping Camp. Every minute of it was magic. I returned to Canada with the Top Goalkeeper trophy, my first ever individual silverware, and the confidence that experience instilled in me changed my entire course in the years that followed. Looking back on it now, I wonder if maybe the Cosmos knew at the time that the N.A.S.L. was financially troubled, and that (while successful) their model of cherrypicking expensive international legends was unsustainable long-term. These camps might have been their (too little, too late) attempt at identifying young domestic talent and (who knows?) creating a youth team/academy scheme like all professional clubs employ today. I was 13 when the league folded, and a Toronto Blizzard supporter. Part of me wants to believe that if the N.A.S.L. had survived 5 more years, that the Cosmos might have maintained a relationship with me of some kind, as part of an inexpensive homegrown talent pool. That, I will never know.

who a bigger club historically chelsea or new york cosmos

Great analogy! I never made that connection before, but you are EXACTLY right - his size and strength, and ability to get free close in to the goal was very similar to Phil Esposito. They both got criticized (wrongly) for scoring tap in/garbage goals, but: 1. they first had to get free of defenders and 2. every goal counts. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Respect to you from Canada.

I had the privilege to meet him in his prime, when I was a star-struck 13 year old attending one of the Cosmos summer youth camps. Anyone who tries to tell you that he was a "me first" egomaniac simply doesn't know what they are talking about. He was scheduled to give a 30 minute demonstration, followed by a 30 minute talk. What he did instead, was clear the rest of his day, and spend 8 hours walking around the campus- encouraging and engaging us. Of course Giorgio loved football. Few people know how much he loved kids, and how passionate he was about growing the game from the grassroots level. He genuinely wanted young domestic players to commit themselves to following their dreams. Giorgio Chinaglia envisioned a future where talented U.S. and Canadian born players would make up the bulk of the roster spots in the professional league. He was decades ahead of his time, and we should remember and respect him as much for his vision, as we do for his greatness on the field.

You're very lucky to have met him. Giorgio did so much for US soccer. He was an extraordinary player and person. Thanks for your comments, Jim!

He was a one-man show; scored 90% of his goals inside 8 yds. On his own admission, he wasn't even a team player and was more or less disliked by the entire Cosmos roster and management except for Steve Ross. Chinaglia can count on one had how many times he assisted goals. I saw his play several times and thought he was not someone to emulate, at all.

His job was solely to score as the center forward. Plain and simple and he was the best at it.

Get Lazio jersey.

who a bigger club historically chelsea or new york cosmos

@@keyuantejohnson6266 It's almost as though you are spoiling for a fight (?). I'm not specifically a New York Cosmos supporter - I just know my football history, and I give credit where credit is due. In my opinion, as a retired professional and youth International, you are seeking to compare an English club founded in 1905 with a defunct American club that had a brilliant 6-7 year impact on the sport - and that makes you kinda daft. It's entirely possible that if I showed you a picture of your mom when she was 20, and a picture of Pamela Anderson today - you'd argue that your mother is a sexier woman. There's free therapy available for that, but my point would be that you aren't making equal comparisons. In a unique, short-lived period of time, the greatest players in the world wanted to play for the Cosmos, and every team in the world wanted to play against them. They got most of those players, and beat most of those teams. Obviously unsustainable from a financial point of view - it imploded. The fact remains, that the 70s Cosmos ignited interest in football on an entirely new Continent. They are why children started playing the sport, in the world's wealthiest nation (and my Canada too!), they are why the M.L.S. exists today. They are the reason that Canadian and American players dot the top 5 European leagues today, and their national teams routinely qualify for World Cup finals. Take the N.Y. Cosmos silverware over 7 years, and extrapolate it over the 120 years of Chelsea's existance, and tell me how that looks? Did Chelsea change the sport? Did Chelsea immerse a continent in future development? Awaken the giant? I'm Canadian, but I'm pretty sure that the United States are set to host their 2nd World Cup in 32 years...... and it isn't because Chelsea are a mid-table footnote in the English P.L. Game, Set, Match.

Steve Zungel was the best I ever saw but Giorgio was fantastic.

@@clebo99 I never saw Zungul's outdoor matches only when he was at the Arrows. He scored a lot of goals though at Split and with the Earthquakes.

@@clebo99 Indoor, yes. Fantastic.

Don't f*cking sweat it mate. If you see my post above, I met the man - he was 100% class. A person with experience will never be beholden to a person with an opinion. Let the haters hate.

You could not be more correct sir. Please check my comment above.

who a bigger club historically chelsea or new york cosmos

who a bigger club historically chelsea or new york cosmos

He did