Jefferson Cup: BWG Cosmos director of coaching Paul McGlynn speaks to PSW

The New York Cosmos have leaped back into the U.S. soccer consciousness of late, as new investors look to renew the famous old brand with an eye towards joining Major League Soccer in the years ahead. Selling stylish merchandise and hiring household names like Cobi Jones and Eric Cantona has put Pele’s former club back into the headlines.

But a far less glamorous move may be the one that pays the biggest dividends. The Cosmos have partnered with Blau Weiss Gottschee, a venerable club based in Queens, in an effort to identify talent and build a youth academy structure.

A Cosmos senior team is likely to remain a dream for several years to come, but the foundations of a thriving youth program are already being laid. Judging by the talent on display at the 2011 Jefferson Cup, the Cosmos Academy could soon become a powerhouse in the world of U.S. elite youth development.

Potomac Soccer Wire spoke to director of coaching Paul McGlynn about that and other topics after his U12 team’s 5-0 win over the Colorado Rush on Sunday.