The revival of the Cosmos in New York said on Wednesday it had hired the Manchester United legend Eric Cantona for his director of football to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.

A press release dated New York, said 44-year-old Cantona, who retired from football in 1997, would have overall responsibility for issues related to football, Cosmos, which includes the team first proposed.

He intends to work closely with the former U.S. World Cup star Cobi Jones, who was associate director of football and is the ambassador.

"Together, Cantona and Jones lead the club? Heritage and integrity, while developing and attracting talent in the world-class soccer around the world," the statement said Cosmos.

AFP contacted by phone, club officials refused to deal with more than Cantona.

The original New York Cosmos played from 1971 to 1985, when they were in the forefront of efforts to popularize soccer in America through the signing of stars such as Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto.

But after the collapse of the North American Soccer League, the Cosmos fortune quickly faded and they left the company in 1985.

With the rise in MLS, there have been numerous attempts to revive the club and the recent launch of the first Pele August, after the former Tottenham Hotspur vice-chairman Paul Kemsley bought the team name and the rights of image.