A pioneering club in American soccer history will be taking the pitch once again as the New York Cosmos have announced a return to the North American Soccer League, starting in the 2013 season.

The Cosmos originated in the 1970s, and were headlined by two of the greatest players in the history of international soccer: Brazil's Pele and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer. After Pele's retirement, the team and the league both failed to garner the same attention, and the Cosmos folded.

Despite an unhappy ending, there was a time that both the media and sports fans paid great attention to soccer in the United States. This was a direct result of the flair and magnetism of Pele and the New York Cosmos. They won't be viewed at as high a profile right away, but a few big signings could change all of that.

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