As will I, actually, and anybody else who remembers the NASL http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_8/103-3187038-9111006?v=glance&s=books
the book was supposed to be released in May, and the publisher hasn't responded to my emails about when it will be released. Newsham's a decent enough writer, but I wish Jack Bell of the NY Times was writing this book, as his article in Striker on the Cosmos is still the best article Lang has run yet. Tony
yes i will buy that, i heard everything about Cosmos but, had never actualy watched it's games, i heard all kind of world stars play for it.
Have someone of you seen to play Beckenbauer life when he played in NASL? Cosmos? Does anyone of you have some memories of games with Franz Beckenbauer? Thank you Bltleo GERMANY
I saw Franz Beckenbauer play with the Cosmos when they visited Spartan Stadium to play the San Jose Earthquakes in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Damn, I'm old! -G
I´m really interesting to hear your experience. I know Franz. But I have never seen him to play life, just on videos. Well in the time when he played, I was not on this world, I was probably not planed that time either. So your opinion is appreciated. Thank you Bltleo Germany
Like many others who played in the NASL, Beckenbauer played at the end of his career. I think he was in his mid to late 30's when he played for the Cosmos. What I can tell you is that he was one tough dude. Always calm under pressure, always in the right spot to ward off offensive pressure from the other side, and without question... The leader of the Cosmos. Beckenbauer was a literal coach on the field... Chinaglia was a goal scorer and a great player. However, he did not have the same level of respect as an overall player (In my opinion) as the Kaiser! I will always remember watching him play and put it up there with having seen Pele & Cryuff as the my personal top 3 to play in the NASL.
Well I know a lot about Beckenbauer, more than you think probably. I know about his style of play, about him as person, etc.. I have all books about him, everything. I know him simply good. I was only interesting to know your american point view on his time when he played in Cosmos. Franz is really Kaiser. It is always nice to hear opinion from people from America what they think about him. Bltleo GERMANY
One word comes to mind when I think of Franz - class. I vividly remember his winning shootout attempt in game 2 of the 1978 conference finals against Minnesota and the final goal of his Cosmos career against the Chicago Sting in 1983 - a 25 yard full volley from the right wing off of a goal kick that the Sting goalie never saw until he retrieved it from his net.
Thank you for your opinion. It is always nice to hear opinion about our Kaiser from the USA when he played as well. Was Beckenbauer popular in the USA when he played at Cosmos? Do you think he contributed in some way to support soccer as sport in your country? Bltleo Germany
Unfortunatly I doubt any non-soccer fans in the US at that time knew who Beckenbauer was. I'm sure that was one of the reasons why Franz, like many of his contemporarys, chose to finish out there careers in the US. After spending many years in the public spotlight the anonymity must have been refreshing. I'm sure they were happy to contribute any in any way to the advancement of the sport here but I doubt it was the main reason for playing in the NASL. Personally I was overjoyed to be able to see a player in person whom I had only been able to see previously on closed circuit World Cup telecasts.
To tell you the truth, I think I only remember seeing Franz one time against the SJ Quakes in 1983....I think it was 83, however. Supposedly, after the 1980 season, Beckenbauer I think went back to GMY to play for Hamburg. I think he played a few seasons until he played the UNICEF FIFA all star game after the World Cup in 1982 at Ginats Stadium in New Jersey. He was the best player on the pitch and the very next season the Cosmos asked him to come out of retirement to play for the summer. I think that was the only year Beckenbauer played in San Jose's Spartan Stadium. Speaking of the NY Cosmos, there was another guy I think of a lot and that was English midfield/forward Steve Hunt. Here was a guy who I think was plucked from the 3rd or 4th division in the mid 70's and becuase he played with the Cosmos and played alongside Pele, Chinaglia, etc. etc. gained a lot experience and was then signed by Coventry City in 1978. He said becuase of his experience on the Cosmos they made him into an (EPL) first divison quality player. He came back to play for the Cosmos again in the early 80's but I think he only lasted 1 more year and that was it.
I believe Steve Hunt was signed from Aston Villa prior to the 1977 NASL season. He returned for a 1 season stretch in 1982.
Steve Hunt. I'm a Derby fan and I remember a game in the late 70s maybe 80 when Coventry came to the Baseball Ground in the infamous brown away kit. Derby were on the slide at the time but we thought a young English guy from the NASL couldn't be much of a threat, playing against a bunch of old men and Yank cloggers. We couldn't have been more wrong, Hunt was brilliant, fast and skillful he led our defenders a merry dance all afternoon. I don't remember the score but I do remember Hunt had a great game and I found real respect for American soccer.
Yeah Hunt was a speedy winger up and down the flanks. I remember him going back to the Cosmos for 1 year but it was short lived. I'm not sure if he retired after that or not. As far as American soccer in those days, the NASL had a lot of stars, but they also had a lot of 3rd & 4th division players from Europe. Some of these guys could never get on with a first division club or even get any playing time in Europe or England. For example, the Portland Timbers & the San Jose Earthquakes had some Brits who were real good but rarely and EPL players. Paul Child, Davie Kemp ,Laurie Calloway and John Rowlands. I think I herd a rumor that Rowlands played center forward with Liverpool and converted to central defender when he came to San Jose, but I'm not sure about that. You had some young foreigners guys who were just electric. In 1982 the Quakes had Godfrey Ingram & Vince Hilaire who I think played for Luton Town. Vince was an Under 20 international but he lost it after. Godfrey stuck around until the folding of the league and then played indoors. I think the Cosmos brought him up but he never played I don't think in a regular season game for N.Y. i'm not sure if Godfrey ever played internationally , but I'm sure had the NASL not folded, he may very well have played for the USMNT......in 1985 however, all those dreams became lost memories unfortunately.
I think that may be the Dave Kemp who was at southampton, so he may be classed as what would today be an EPL player. Vince Hillaire, now there's a name from the past. He was a young player at Crystal Palace and great things were expected of him. I remember a T.V. programme was made about him in the seventies and many people in the media and the game said he'd be the first black player to play for England. Sadly, Hillaire never quite got to those levels. The first black player to play for England eventually turned out to be the Forest full-back Viv Anderson. As for the other players you mentioned, never heard of 'em.
Laurie Calloway played for Shrewbury and came over to play for the San Jose Earthquakes in 1974. In 1994 he was the manager in charge of getting the Brazilian national team situated in the San Jose/Los Gatos area and was the first San Jose coach in the MLS. He was a tough defender but never really was great in England. Dave Kemp was maybe 5ft 5 inches tall. I don't think he is the same guy you think, however. He was a defensive midfield who played on the Earthquakes in their inception in 1974. He marked Pele out of the game in his first appearance at Spartan Stadium when the NY Cosmos played at San Jose. Although Pele was 35 at the time, it was a great performance by a little guy. Hilaire lasted one year with the Quakes in 1982 and that was it. The year before , George Best carried the club on his shoulders but then went back to Europe becuase I think he had hopes of making the Northern Ireland team n 1982 but they wouldn't pick him becuase of his troubles with alcohol etc etc. He did have the distinction at least of scoring the best goal in Quakes franchise history. Another English defender who played for the Quakes was Tony Powell. He was a good central defender and he held his own in the Nasl.
