Andres Flores joined his former coach, Giovanni Savarese, with the Portland Timbers. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
Since the end of the 2017 North American Soccer League season, 13 Cosmos players have left the club.
Some have signed with new teams, whether it is in Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League or overseas. One has decided to retire while another player hasn’t made up his mind yet as to his future.
Those 13 players don’t include former head coach Giovanni Savarese, who joined the Portland Timbers in December after five seasons with the club. He directed the Cosmos to three NASL titles.
According to the Cosmos roster on its website, nine players are still with the team.
They include goalkeepers Kyle Zobeck and Brian Holt, defender Jimmy Mulligan, midfielders Kobi Moyal, Danny Szetela, Richard Menjivar and Salvatore Barone and forwards Bledi Bardic and Lucky Mkosana.
The Cosmos are in limbo for the time being as it awaits a ruling from an appellate court as the NASL seeks a preliminary injunction on the U.S. Soccer Federation rescinding its Division Two status for 2018.
In chronological order, here is a quick look where the 13 players have gone:
On Nov. 29, defender David Diosa signed with the Real Monarchs (Untied Soccer League).
On Dec. 18, goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer hooked up with FC Dallas (Major League Soccer).
On Dec. 29, midfielder Irving Herrera returned to his native El Salvador to play with FAS.
On Jan. 2, Argentine forward Pablo Vranjicán joined Alianza Petrolera F.C. (Colombia)
On Jan. 4, midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma signed with FC Cincinnati (USL).
On Jan. 12, defender David Ochieng agreed to play with IF Brommapojkarna of the Swedish First Division.
On Jan. 12, midfielder Javi Marquez signed with Club Gimnàstic de Tarragona of the Spanish Segunda Division.
On Jan. 20, the Cosmos transferred midfielder Eric Calvillo to the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS).
On Jan. 23, right back Ryan Richter announced his retirement as a player to enter the coaching ranks.
On Jan. 24, midfielder Andres Flores was reunited with his former coach, Savarese, as he signed with the Timbers.
On Jan. 30, Canadian international defender Dejan Jaković signed with the Los Angeles Football Club (MLS)
On Jan. 31, midfielder Juan Guerra joined Indy Eleven (USL).
And on Saturday, Feb. 3, left back Ayoze said he was leaving the club, although he did not announce if he had joined a new team.
