Cosmos' Venezuelan Trio Eyes Success In 2016

Despite hoisting the Soccer Bowl trophy in 2015, the New York Cosmos have had to revitalize their lineup after several departures. Cosmos coach Giovanni Savarese looked no further than the country of his birth, Venezuela.

First, he signed his former teammate at Caracas FC and the Venezuelan national team, Juan Arango, who leads the country in appearances (127) and goals (22). Savarese then signed Yohandry Orozco.

“We don’t make decisions as a coincidence,” Savarese told NASL.com. “All the moves are well thought out to make sure we value the player and if the environment will be good for them.”

While Savarese was at the end of his playing career when he played with Arango, the Cosmos’ coach took on a mentor role.

“Not only did I meet him on the national team, I also played with him with Caracas in Venezuela,” Arango said. “He was a mentor to me and we began a friendship then that has lasted.”

Savarese could see from Arango’s early days as a professional that a bright future lay ahead.

“Juan was an exceptional player,” Savarese said. “When you have a chance to have a teammate and that teammate is a youngster, and you see the quality and say he’s going to do great things in soccer – that was Juan. He’s very unique. He was a player you rarely see, he’s good at basically everything – good shot, good technically, makes good decisions, a good passer and header, and tactically he knows where to be.

“Since that age you could tell already he was a complete player and that he’d do very well. It’s no surprise what he has done in soccer and what’s he’s given to the national team of Venezuela.”

Now, coming back around as the ball rolls on the field, Arango, 35, has assumed the mentor role for Orozco, 24.

“I hope so,” Arango said. “It’s something that I thought about. I hope to be able to help this team and the young players. There’s a lot of guys with a lot of potential who are striving to be their best.

“I hope I can do to them with what Gio helped me with early on in my career.”

Orozco added: “I’ve spoken to Juan on the training field and he’s a great presence to have. I’ve spoken to him about our time in Germany and we bonded over that. He’s been a great teaching influence and he’s told me about his experiences in Spain and Mexico.”

Orozco noted, referring to Arango, that it’s an “honor to play beside him” and recounted how badly he wanted to face off against his new teammate in New York during their stays in Germany’s Bundesliga.

“Once I was on the bench [for Wolfsburg] and we were playing Mönchengladbach and Juan was playing,” he said. “I still, to this day, wish I could’ve gotten into that game as a substitute. I wish I could’ve played him as a rival. It was an important moment for me to see another Venezuelan playing in the league.”

In New York, the familiar nature of having another Venezuelan in the team and as the coach has helped Arango and Orozco settle in. But the culture around the club has influenced them as well, as the players acclimate to their new team.

“This team is like a family and I heard that from Gio and now seeing it I really believe it,” Orozco said. “There’s a certain amount of camaraderie here that is unique and it’s great.”

Savarese and Arango have stayed close over the years and have spoken on several occasions about the possibility of reuniting. That wasn’t possible until this year.

“We had been talking about if before it even happened,” Arango said. “He had called me when I was in Germany with Mönchengladbach, he called me when I was in Mexico [with Club Tijuana], but they weren’t possibilities then. We had a conversation a few months back and it was a possibility, so I was happy to come.

“My friendship with Gio was a huge factor.”

Now, the Venezuelan trio will look to continue collecting trophies with the defending NASL Champion Cosmos

“It’s really an exciting time and I hope to help the club win more titles,” Orozco said.