NEW YORK (July 24, 2015) – The New York Cosmos announced today that midfielder Danny Szetela has signed a contract extension with the team. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Szetela, 28, has been a regular starter in central midfield for the Cosmos since joining the team. During the past three years, Szetela has made 47 regular season appearances (with four goals and two assists) and also started in the 2013 NASL championship title-winning game.
“Danny has been an important player for this team from day one and we’re delighted that he’ll be staying on,” said coach Giovanni Savarese. “He’s got a lot of match experience and attributes that are key to the way we play and he’s a player that keeps getting better every year.”
A native of Clifton, NJ, Szetela joined the Cosmos in July 2013 after a two-year hiatus from the sport due to injuries. He originally turned professional in 2004 at the age of 16 when signing with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Szetela made 34 appearances for the Crew before moving abroad to play with Racing de Santander of Spain’s La Liga and Brescia Calcio of Serie B (where he made 26 appearances).
Szetela has represented the United States national team at every level. He was a member of the USSF’s Bradenton Academy and represented the U.S. at the 2003 Under-17 World Cup. In 2007, Szetela was a key starter on the U.S. U-20 national team that reached the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, alongside other future national team players such as Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. He has also earned three caps for the full U.S. men’s national team and played for the U.S. at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“Right now I really enjoy the way we train and approach each game,” said Szetela. “The club is like a family. I love it here and we have some unfinished business, so it was an easy decision for me to come back.”
About the Cosmos
The New York Cosmos began play in 1971, spending 14 seasons in the North American Soccer League, winning five Soccer Bowl trophies and bringing some of the biggest names in world soccer to the USA. This included Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Giorgio Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto.
It had been nearly 30 years since the Cosmos, an iconic global soccer club, played in a professional league. Yet throughout their absence, the club maintained a loyal and dedicated fan following.
On Aug. 3, 2013, the New York Cosmos returned to the NASL with a sell-out win at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium, before embarking on a season that would see the Cosmos win the 2013 North American Soccer League Fall Season. The club closed out its inaugural season by winning the 2013 Soccer Bowl with a 1-0 victory against the Atlanta Silverbacks on Nov. 9, 2013 at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, Atlanta, GA. The championship is the sixth NASL title in the club’s history.
The Cosmos also submitted a privately-funded economic development proposal in 2013 to the State of New York to build a world-class 25,000-seat professional soccer stadium at Belmont Park. More information about the proposal and renderings can be found at www.newcosmosstadium.com.
For more information on the New York Cosmos, please visit www.newyorkcosmos.com, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @NYCosmos. Tickets for the 2015 season are also now available by calling 855-71-COSMOS or via the club’s official website.