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Want to see some wild goal celebrations? Tune into the North American Soccer League.
A dance craze has hit the NASL, and clubs around the league are now trying to outdo each other whenever they score.
The trend started with North Carolina FC, but as you can see from the video above, they have plenty of competition.
Raul has had a phenomenal career, and he ends it as a champion.
The former Real Madrid and Schalke man helped New York Cosmos to a 3-2 victory over Ottawa Fury in the championship game of the North American Soccer League on Sunday.
BANNER: "Raúl, thank you for 21 years of football." pic.twitter.com/zKWVrdz8H5
— SocialRMadrid (@SocialRMadrid) November 15, 2015
All eyes were on Raul, but it was Argentine striker Gaston Cellerino who was the hero, as he scored a hat-trick in the game.
Cellerino's first came after only eight minutes.
The Cosmos were further boosted in the second-half when Ottawa's Mason Trafford was sent off.
Ottawa surprisingly equalised but were only level for a minute as Cellerino got his second.
Raul then provided a lovely assist for Cellerino to make it 3-1.
A late Ottawa goal ensured some nervy final moments, but the Cosmos prevailed, providing a fitting send-off to Raul and fellow former Spanish international Marcos Senna, who is also retiring.
Thanks for the memories, guys!
Real Madrid legend and current New York Cosmos forward Raul has officially announced his plans to retire from football at the end of the NASL season in November.
The 38-year-old confirmed the news on Thursday, via the club's official website:
When I signed for the New York Cosmos in December, I said I would evaluate how I felt towards the end of the year and assess whether I would continue to play.
My decision is to retire from playing at the end of this season. I am fully focused on finishing the season strong and helping the New York Cosmos win the NASL Championship. In the coming months I will decide the next step in my career.
Playing soccer has been part of my life for so long and the decision to retire is not an easy one but I believe it is the right time.
I'm thankful to everyone who has supported me throughout my career and I look forward to playing my final games with the New York Cosmos over the coming weeks.
One World Sports shared video of the veteran striker explaining why he's retiring:
Raul was one of the most feared strikers in the world during his time with Real Madrid, where he became the club's all-time leading scorer in a period stretching over 15 years. Cristiano Ronaldo recently tied his incredible haul of 323 goals, per AS English.
FourFourTweet shared his full statistics for club and country:
With Los Blancos, Raul won three UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga crowns. He was voted best Spanish player in La Liga a record five times and added two top-scorer's titles, via the Cosmos' official website.
In his prime, Raul was the face of a Real Madrid squad that dominated Europe, forming incredible attacking partnerships with Fernando Morientes and Brazilian Ronaldo.
He remained with Los Blancos until 2010, when he completed a shock move to Schalke 04. Raul had two more strong seasons in the Bundesliga before moving to Al Sadd and ending up in New York.
International silverware always eluded him, as he never managed to win a major trophy with Spain.
Raul's announcement not only comes with weeks left in the NASL season, but also as his scoring record with Real is set to be broken by Ronaldo.
As reported by SNTV, even he felt honoured to equal the Spaniard:
While there will undoubtedly be a big ceremony for Raul back in Madrid, fans in New York will get to watch the legendary forward ply his trade for a couple more weeks before they have to say goodbye.
It would be some performance if he could wave farewell to the game with an NASL Championship under his belt, but given the incredible amount of trophies he gathered during his career, it would only be fitting.
NEW YORK — The United States has become a hot destination for South American footballers over the last few years, with many American clubs looking south to improve their rosters.
The New York Cosmos recently followed the growing trend by signing Argentine forward Gaston Cellerino in August. Cellerino admits that there are more conversations about playing in the North American Soccer League and Major League Soccer in his home continent every day.
"It’s something that we talk about a lot in South America. When I was playing in Chile and Argentina, we talked about how the leagues in the United States are growing. That was definitely something that drew me here. I’m excited to play here and in the NASL," Cellerino told Bleacher Report through a translator.
Before joining the Cosmos, Cellerino put together a solid scoring resume in Chile with the Santiago Wanderers. Cellerino scored 17 goals in 57 matches with the Chilean side, beginning in 2013. His most prolific spell before that came in 2008 with Rangers de Talca in Chile. He netted 22 strikes that season and earned a move to Livorno in Italy.
When he thought about his next move, Cellerino considered the United States because of the challenge it presented to players like himself.
"Personally I saw this as a challenge after talking with players from different leagues I’ve been in. I want to help football in the United States grow, and particularly the leagues in the United States grow. I was looking for a new experience and wanted to enjoy myself in a different way," Cellerino said.
"I think that’s another part of the allure for other players coming from South America: the challenge of playing in the United States and succeeding and helping the growth of the league."
As any forward is expected to do, Cellerino will be counted on to score plenty of goals for the Cosmos during the NASL's fall season. The Cosmos are third in the fall table but first in the overall table heading into their September 12 home match with the Jacksonville Armada. (The NASL season is split into two distinct sections, spring and fall.)
“I know that my job here is to score goals. I’m a strong player. I think that I’m good at putting myself in good situations in the box. I think I’m able to challenge defenders by getting in the air with my head," Cellerino said. "I want to help this team in whatever way I can, but I know it’s my job to come in and be able to score goals."
Through 21 games in the entire NASL season, the Cosmos are second in the league in scoring with 35 goals. Only Minnesota United FC (37 goals) has a higher scoring output than Giovanni Savarese's side.
Cellerino's scoring abilities should be enhanced in training each day as he partners with Spanish legend Raul in the Cosmos attack. As one would expect, Cellerino is enjoying his time with his new strike partner.
“Any player would relish the opportunity to play with Raul," Cellerino said. "I'm just trying to get myself in the best possible shape to be able to combine with him on the field, and I’m really looking forward to that."
He also added he's been able to assimilate into the group just fine since his arrival.
"Since I’ve been training here, I’ve enjoyed the environment," Cellerino said. "It’s a lot like a family, and I’m starting to fit in pretty well up here."
Two qualities that the American leagues are known for are the various climates games are played in and the high amount of travel required. Cellerino will be banking on his time in South America to prepare for those particular challenges.
“I think it’s definitely different here with the amount of travel and distance," he said. "Temperature-wise, my body will adjust. I have experience playing in high and low temperatures from my time in Chile and Argentina. I’m welcoming the challenge."
If Cellerino continues to work well with the squad in training and is able to make a strong transition, the Cosmos should be able to rely on him often during the stretch run of the regular season.
The New York Cosmos host Jacksonville on September 12 at James M. Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York.
Five years after leaving Real Madrid, Raul Gonzalez finds himself in unfamiliar footballing territory.
Following stops in Germany with Schalke and in Qatar with Al Sadd, the legendary striker now plays for a legendary club in the United States, the New York Cosmos.
The Cosmos play in the North American Soccer League, the second tier of professional soccer in the U.S. If both the Cosmos and the NASL sound familiar, they should. The latter takes its name from the original North American Soccer League, which operated from 1968-1984 and found great success in America thanks to the presence of famous players such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff.
Pele was the most recognizable face of that original Cosmos side, and now, in its second iteration, the club is using a similar strategy with another legendary figure: Raul.
Now 37, Raul began his Real Madrid career back in 1994, when he became the club's youngest first-team player, and stayed until 2010. Over the following 16 years, he became the team's all-time leading scorer with 323 goals, a record that still stands, and helped the Blancos win six league titles and three UEFA Champions League crowns.
The success continued at Schalke, where he netted 40 goals in 98 appearances and led the German side to the Champions League semifinals in 2011. He left the Bundesliga club with the all-time record for Champions League goals, a mark that has since been surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Raul recently spoke with B/R's Michael Cummings as he prepared for the Cosmos' NASL home match against the San Antonio Scorpions on Saturday. He spoke about adjusting to life in the NASL, where he often plays on artificial turf, as well as Real Madrid's current season.
Here's what the Real Madrid legend said.
Bleacher Report: How are you enjoying life with the Cosmos so far?
Raul: I am very happy. It's been a good experience for me. All the club and the team, we've started the season in the right way. We are in first position in the league, but we know that we have to continue in the same way.
BR: The Cosmos are such a historic club. Have you interacted with Pele at all?
Raul: Yes, I had a meeting with him a few months ago. Pele is one of the best players in the history of soccer, of football, and also he was very important for this club 30 years ago. When I spoke with him, he only had good words for me.
BR: What has it been like to play on artificial turf? Has it been tough transitioning to a different playing surface?
Raul: Yes, it’s been tough. The intensity and speed of the ball on turf are very different. I try to control it the best I can, and with every day and every game I feel better, like I’m getting used to it.
BR: Have you changed anything in your style of play since joining the Cosmos?
Raul: No, not really. I love playing as a striker, but I have different roles in the team now, at times getting the ball to the midfielder and also making good combination play with my team-mates. But the most important thing is to try to get the points.
BR: Let's talk about Real Madrid. What are your overall thoughts about their current season?
Raul: I think it was a good season, but when you don't win a title, that's not good at Real Madrid. But they were in the semi-finals [of the Champions League] against Juventus. In the league, they had a good few months until the last game.
In the last game, it was difficult for them because they couldn't win the title, and for Real Madrid, this is not good. But it is normal in football, and I'm looking forward to the next season, when hopefully Real Madrid can win the title.
BR: What can Real do to put themselves ahead of Barcelona next season?
Raul: Every season is very difficult. Barcelona are very strong. They have won the league and are in the Champions League final. At Real Madrid, they have a good team, and they have to continue the same to fight and play well to win the title, and sometimes you can do it, but it is difficult.
BR: There has been plenty of speculation about Iker Casillas leaving the club. Do you think he should experience a new environment at the end of his career, as you've done, or should he stay?
Raul: No, I can't say. It will be his decision
BR: Ronaldo recently broke your scoring record in the Champions League. How did that feel for you?
Raul: It’s OK. I'm very proud. I set the record at Real Madrid in the Champions League, but Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world. He has scored in every game, and I think it is normal that he broke my record.
BR: What advice would you have for Ronaldo at this stage of his career?
Raul: He is a very good player. I was lucky to play with him at Real Madrid. He is very professional. He is a hard worker, and I hope he continues to work hard, score goals and win titles for Real Madrid
BR: Since you left Real Madrid, you've played with Schalke and Al Saad, and now you're in New York with the Cosmos. What can you say about all the different places you've played?
Raul: Every year for me, it’s been a different mentality and culture. The European leagues and teams are more competitive, very technical. It was good to work in Qatar—a good experience for me for the future. In the USA, the teams and the players are improving every season. Our league is very competitive, and I think the physical aspect of the game is very strong here, but we need to keep improving the level of the game.
BR: Will this be your last stop as a professional footballer?
Raul: Yes, I think so. I will decide after this season if I will play another year, but that will be decided later.
All quotes were gathered firsthand. New York Cosmos face San Antonio Scorpions at home this Saturday, kick-off at 7 p.m. ET.
Follow @MiguelCominguez
Three years after the formation of the new North American Soccer League, establishing legitimacy has transitioned to exponential growth as the league rides the surging tsunami of soccer's American popularity.
For the Carolina RailHawks and the five other founding teams of the NASL which remain in existence today, such rapid growth is highly apparent within the local community.
But, as evidenced by the three expansion clubs beginning their first full season in 2014 and the three more expected to join next summer, the NASL has become more than just a local-scale minor league conglomeration.
NASL Coming of Age
Few have seen the league's maturation more clearly than commissioner Bill Peterson, who presented his views Thursday at a media round table in Durham, N.C., hosted by the RailHawks.
"We've moved out of start-up mode to growth mode," he said. "I can sit down with an expansion candidate and...show them numbers and hard examples of where this league is working.
"It's no longer about selling a dream, it's selling a reality, and you can see the vision of where this is headed and where it goes."
Such a reality is on the verge of becoming more quantifiably obvious than ever before. At this time in 2013, the NASL consisted of seven teams. At this time in 2015, that number is likely to stand at 13—and rising fast.
The New York Cosmos brought tremendous exposure when they joined for the 2013 fall season and took the league title; the Indy Eleven (Indianapolis) and Ottawa Fury made their NASL debuts last weekend. Expansion teams in the D.C. suburbs (Ashburn, Virginia), Jacksonville and Oklahoma City will begin play a year from today.
"We have plans to continue to grow this league to 18, possibly 20 clubs," said Peterson. "We're involved in...five very serious conversations [about potential expansion franchises] and some others that could turn serious over the next few months."
The soccer world around Peterson and the NASL is lending a helping hand: Between increasing numbers of international friendlies and the upcoming World Cup, both the league and the sport are finding more and more time in the spotlight.
"We've also started to encourage the teams to travel outside of the country," said Peterson. "We've really started to view this as a global league." Three NASL clubs—Minnesota, New York and Ft. Lauderdale—played international friendlies this past offseason in England, the UAE and Haiti, respectively.
"There is a lot of commercial money spent in and around the World Cup so soccer in general gets a big audience the next few months," he added. "Our local clubs will try to take advantage of people talking about soccer, people watching soccer. New people introduced to it now need a home."
However, Peterson emphasized the importance of the league's self-pushed growth as the critical piece behind increased exposure. "Does [the World Cup] help? Sure. Is it something that really moves the league a lot? Probably not. You've got to enjoy the competition, but the Monday morning after it's over, you've got to get back to work again."
RailHawks Growing into Niche
The RailHawks continued to spread the NASL reputation and offered a peephole into the club's future popularity in the Raleigh/Cary market with their deep run in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Huge turnouts at WakeMed Soccer Park led the squad to wins over MLS sides Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA as Carolina advanced to the quarterfinals.
Club president Curt Johnson summarized the franchise's development since its 2007 inaugural campaign on Thursday. "We have clearly stabilized the organization, professionalized the organization," he said.
Aaron Davidson, a representative from Traffic Sports USA (which owns both Carolina and fellow franchise Ft. Lauderdale), conveyed even higher ambitions. "Our goal is to be first division at some point. Clearly I believe...we have to be the best pro soccer team in our market. We've got to figure out how to make this team one of the best teams in North America."
The clear next step is a rise in attendance. WakeMed Soccer Park added an upper terrace prior to last season that increased capacity to 10,000, yet the RailHawks averaged just a hair over 4,700 fans per game within the NASL (both Cup match crowds were much bigger).
"The sweet spot for our league today is exactly the size of that stadium," said Davidson. "But we've got to start filling it on a week-in, week-out basis..."
Attendance does seem to be trending in the right direction. Season-ticket sales are reportedly up for the fourth straight season, and the Triangle Soccer Fanatics group was likened by Johnson as "an organization that can grow as big as anything we see in Portland or Seattle."
More seasons like 2013, when the RailHawks went unbeaten at home, will certainly help as well.
"We want these game days to be celebrations of the sport," said Johnson, "...where the passion level for the sport rises: you see more people in orange, more people in our merchandise, more people that care deeply about the result."
2014 Season Full of Opportunity
From both the RailHawks' on-field perspective and the NASL's big-picture point of view, the summer ahead and the soccer that will abound in it is a tremendous reason for excitement.
Carolina tied 1-1 in the first-ever professional soccer game in Indianapolis in front of a crowd of 11,048 last Saturday. New York routed Atlanta 4-0 in a rematch of last fall's championship game, while Minnesota downed San Antonio 2-0, Tampa Bay tied 1-1 with Edmonton and Ft. Lauderdale, which travels to Cary for the RailHawks' Saturday home opener, won 2-0 over second new expansion club Ottawa.
"The competition on the field, which is really the most important thing to us, even last week in the opening, was very competitive," said Peterson. "You could see where the teams have improved over last year and the quality they have."
These are stirring days for the NASL indeed.
"We're at this really interesting tipping point that is mirrored throughout the country," said Johnson. "The expansion of attendance, the level of play, expansion within leagues...it's really exciting to be a part of it."
The New York Cosmos making the championship game of the North American Soccer League, Soccer Bowl, is nothing new. The mega-team of the 1970s and early 1980s that featured Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Georgio Chinaglia, Carlos Alberto, Vladislav Bogicevic and Andranik Eskandarian appeared in the match six times, winning five.
But that was years ago. The rebirth of the NASL as the United States' and Canada's second division, behind Major League Soccer, is now in its third season. When the league kicked off its third season, only seven teams comprised it. The new New York Cosmos joined the league in August for the fall season.
Traditionally, new teams tend to struggle. But there are exceptions to the rule. Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia's A-League won the regular-season title in their inaugural season and lost in the Grand Final to Central Coast Mariners. The Chicago Fire of MLS not only won the league title in their first season, they pulled the double by winning the U.S. Open Cup as well.
Now the Cosmos can add themselves to the list of instant successes. Led by coach Giovanni Savarese, New York clinched the Fall Season championship with a game to spare.
By winning the Fall Season, the Cosmos earned a spot in Soccer Bowl, which will be played November 9th in Atlanta against the Spring Season champion Silverbacks.
A team that didn't even play the first 12 matches of the season will be playing for the league championship. Is that really fair or good for the league?
Despite being rather strange, the Cosmos playing in the championship despite the unusual circumstances is fair and good for the league.
Split season championships aren't anything unusual. Most leagues in Central and South America have "apertura" and "clausura" seasons. Some leagues keep dual champions, while others have a playoff between the two season winners for the ultimate champion.
Granted, those leagues generally don't have the teams change in the middle of the season. But the Cosmos joining halfway through really isn't an advantage. They shouldn't be treated any differently than a team that finished bottom of the table in the first half, only to rally to win the second half.
The cache of the Cosmos brand and the New York market giving the fledgling NASL some much-needed exposure. If the Tampa Bay Rowdies or the Carolina RailHawks won the Fall Season to face Atlanta, would the league be getting the exposure it is now?
That exposure will be key as the league is slated to bring in five expansion teams over the next two seasons—Indianapolis (Indy Eleven), Northern Virginia (Virginia Cavalry) and Ottawa (Ottawa Fury) in 2014; Oklahoma City and Jacksonville in 2015.
The early success of the Cosmos does bring up the fear that the team will dominate the NASL for years to come. With no promotion or relegation to and from MLS, the Cosmos would be able to win title after title, which may ultimately harm the league. The NASL currently has no salary cap or other restrictions to keep parity within the league.
But as soccer in the United States continues to grow and become more popular, more quality professional teams are needed to give players opportunities and fans more chances to see the beautiful game in person. A country as large as the U.S. needs more than a 24-team top league, as many soccer fans still do not live within 100 miles of a high-level pro team.
Despite the fears of a dynasty in the making, the NASL needs the Cosmos to be successful to make the league attractive for years to come.
FC Edmonton pulled off its first win since Aug. 11 of the 2013 NASL fall schedule by beating the Carolina RailHawks 2-1 on Sunday.
But something was missing.
Shaun Saiko, the all-time leader in scoring for the Eddies, was moved to the reserve team prior to the game and has likely played his final game for his hometown team.
Said Edmonton head coach Colin Miller to the Edmonton Journal, “I discussed it with Shaun and we weren’t going to renew his contract at the end of the season. We thought it was better to move him out of the first team environment."
The news of Saiko's demise was met by scores of upset fans who took to Twitter to voice their disappointment.
Best of luck to @SaikoShaun, who deserves better. Hopefully a good team will seize this opportunity to get a fine young player.
— Maple Leaf Forever! (@MapleLeafBlog) October 4, 2013
@SaikoShaun Shaun as a fan of the club Im extremely disappointed to see you leave, the club now has lost our support of 15 season tickects!
— AB GOV Accountable? (@AcoresManofWar) October 6, 2013
During the 2013 season, Saiko was third on FC Edmonton in scoring with two goals scored and three assists, contributing on one quarter of the Eddies' goals. For his career, he has connected on 18 goals and added 14 assists.
Edmonton has four games left on the fall schedule, including games against the top two teams in the league, the New York Cosmos and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. If the Eddies hope to make the postseason, they need to win all four games, collect all 12 points and have the Cosmos suffer a late-season collapse.
That's a tall order for a team that has only scored 22 goals in 22 games this year. And now, with Saiko out of the picture, the remaining offensive players need to step up and perform a Herculean task without a midfielder who has been a key part of the Eddies offense since the first day.
The fact of the matter is that even if FC Edmonton does everything right, the odds are badly stacked against it making the NASL finals. Given that reality, shutting down a fan favourite and the team's all-time top scorer is a bad move.
The team has been continuing to prove to be a tough sell in Edmonton, not yet approaching a sell-out in its modest-sized 4,080-seat Clarke Stadium home—its best crowd so far was 3,474 fans for a June 16 game against the Carolina RailHawks.
With the playoffs little more than a pipe dream, they need Saiko in the lineup to put fans in the stands, maintain enthusiasm and continue to make the team a viable product, irrespective of whether his presence gives them the best chance to win their remaining games. Any other move is just bad business for a fledgling team in a fledgling league.
Follow me on Twitter @calgaryjimbo
Hunt Sports Group and the Columbus Crew announced today the sale of the Crew to Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV). A new owner for the Crew not only helps the team immensely, it is also good for the growth of Major League Soccer.
Hunt Sports Group, headed by Clark Hunt, has a long history with MLS. Clark's father, Lamar Hunt, was considered one of the founding fathers of MLS. He owned three of the league's original 10 teams. These included the Dallas Burn, Kansas City Wiz and Columbus Crew.
In 2006, the Hunts sold the Kansas City franchise to Ongoal, LLC, currently known as Sporting Club. Now with the acquisition of the Crew by PSV, Dallas is the only remaining team owned by Hunt Sports Group.
The Columbus Crew can now have an owner that is fully committed to only them, and the same goes for Dallas.
The new money will no doubt benefit the Crew. Perhaps the new owners will reward the team and its fans by signing two more designated players (DP). Columbus currently has just one DP in Federico Higuain.
Precourt's new ownership role now puts the league at 19 teams and 18 owners, which is far from where the league was just 11 years ago. In 2002, MLS had 10 teams and only three owners—Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), Lamar Hunt, and Robert Kraft.
Now AEG, owners of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, is the only multi-team owner remaining in MLS. Is it finally time for the entertainment giant to sell its stake in the Dynamo? One can only hope so. Every MLS club deserves owners that can fully devote their attention to the team.
And when the day comes where every team has its own owner, the league will have grown tremendously and will undoubtedly be better off.
Puerto Rico is a rising star within the Caribbean. One of the notable examples was the match between the island and Spain last summer at Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
The second example that is worth mentioning is the Puerto Rico Islanders located in the same city. The 2013 season will be the 10th for the club.
According to the Puerto Rico Islanders website, Ramon Luis Rivera (who was mayor of Bayamon) collaborated with other professionals. The purpose was to create an environment for the growth of world football in Puerto Rico.
The club initially was associated with the United Soccer League (USL) (former A-League). The first coach was Vitor Hugo Barros from Brazil.
He was eventually replaced as coach by Hugo Maradona, who is Diego Maradona's brother. While the Islanders initially did not make the playoffs, Daniel Kennedy was the first Islander to be named Rookie of the Year by the USL.
The Islanders eventually made the USL playoffs under another coach, Jorge Alvial. Alvial eventually resigned and was replaced by Toribio Rojas.
Rojas managed to take the Islanders to the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship. The intention (although without success) was to participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The Islanders eventually participated in matches between teams associated with the USL and MLS. They also secured a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.
At the same time, Jay Needham was another Islander named USL Rookie of the Year in 2007. The success story of the Islanders continued with the team awarded the USL Organization of the Year in 2008.
In the 2010, the Islanders won three championships: the CONCACAF Champions League, CFU Club Championship and United States Soccer Federation-D2 (USSF-D2). They became members of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 2011.
According to the Puerto Rico Islanders webpage, the team enjoyed third place during the 2012 NASL season with 41 points. The team won 11, tied eight and lost nine matches with a goal differential of plus-two.
The Islanders were behind the San Antonio Scorpions and Tampa Bay Rowdies. However, the team announced that they will be undergoing a reorganization during 2013.
During the reorganization, the Islanders will not play during the 2013 spring season. They will play in the remaining season, though.
Regardless of what will transpire, the Puerto Rican Islanders—and football in general—have a future in Puerto Rico.
Roberto Alvarez-Galloso reporting for Bleacher Report from Puerto Rico.
