NEW YORK -- December 11, 2012 – The New York Cosmos today announced the signing of Long Island-native Carlos Mendes. Mendes was born and raised in Mineola, Long Island –he currently resides in East Meadow– and played youth soccer for the Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club. He attended The Wheatley School in Old Westbury, the alma mater of Cosmos legend Shep Messing.

Mendes will wear No. 4, the same number as Werner Roth, the New York-raised former Cosmos captain, who joined the club for its first season at Hofstra in 1972. 

"Carlos is a Long Island guy, well respected in the community and a leader on and off the field,” said Cosmos COO Erik Stover. “He gives us a solid foundation to build our club around.”

Head Coach Giovanni Savarese said, “Carlos is an experienced and solid defender. We fully expect him to be a strong presence in the locker room and provide us with the leadership we’ll need."

Mendes said, “I'm thrilled to join the New York Cosmos and not only play for a club that has seen some of the greatest players in soccer history but also return to my backyard to get the chance to compete in front of family and friends.”

Mendes, 31, spent seven seasons in MLS, six with the NY/NJ MetroStars/Red Bulls and ranks second on the franchise’s all-time games played list. He competed last season for MLS’ Columbus Crew.

After graduating from Old Dominion University where he was a four-year starter, Mendes played for the Long Island Rough Riders of the United Soccer League.  He joined the MetroStars in 2005 and in 2006 was named the club’s Defender of Year by the local soccer media. In 2008, Mendes helped lead the club to its first-ever MLS Cup Final.

Career Statistics

The New York Cosmos, retracing their historic journey to the top of North American soccer, will return to the field in 2013 at their historic home, Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, L.I. The Cosmos, who announced in July that they had joined the North American Soccer League (NASL), first played at Hofstra in the original NASL in their second and third years of existence -- 1972 and 1973. James M. Shuart Stadium boasts a seating capacity of more than 13,000. 

It’s been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global club, have played in a professional league. Yet throughout their absence, the club has maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following. The Cosmos began play in 1971, spending fourteen seasons in the earlier NASL, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer history to North America.  The club last won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1982.