New York Cosmos captain Carlos Mendes joins the Schwartz on Sports Podcast one final time before he plays his final home game.
Since the Cosmos reboot in 2013, there have been some memorable moments in Cosmos Country and Captain Carlos Mendes has been around for all of them. The Long Island native was the first player to sign with the Cosmos when they returned after a 29-year hiatus and all he’s done is life the NASL Soccer Bowl trophy 3 times over the first 4 years of the reboot era.
The Cosmos are currently in their fifth season of the reboot era and it will be the final campaign for Mendes who has announced his retirement effective at the end of the season. This Saturday, Mendes will play his final regular season home games when the Cosmos host Puerto Rico FC at MCU Park in Brooklyn. With a win, the Cosmos will clinch a playoff spot and prolong Mendes’ career by at least one game and the hope is that he can lift that championship trophy one final time.
After practice on Thursday, Mendes sat down with me to talk about his days with the Cosmos, his whole career, this final home game, and what his plans are after the season is over. We discussed his decision to join the Cosmos, his favorite moments over the last five years, and if he plans on staying part of the Cosmos family in some capacity after this season.
As the Cosmos public address announcer, I’ve had the privilege of seeing Mendes brilliance on the field, announce his name during introductions, and also announce a few goals along the way. I’m privileged to have had the chance to get to know him and I hope MCU Park is jammed with Cosmos fans on Saturday so that we can all thank Carlos for everything he’s done.
