While the likes of David Beckham and Thierry Henry have joined the MLS in recent seasons, Pele is unquestionably the biggest name ever to have played in the league, and the Brazilian legend has returned to his former club.

Sunday saw the Cosmos, who were last seen in the 1980s, announce plans to return to the MLS, with Pele there in person to help promote the franchise.

In the 80s, Pele and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer wowed American soccer fans, but the Cosmos ceased after ownership issues as well as issues surrounding the NASL.

But now under the ownership of a group led by Englishman Paul Kemsley, who previously held an interest in Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, the new Cosmos are looking to return to the MLS.

Cosmos will this year field youth teams called the Cosmos Academy in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy with a view to making an impact in the Major League Soccer league - and winning fans from their city rivals New York Red Bulls (who actually play in New Jersey), who last month signed Thierry Henry from Barcelona.

"Our plan has several phases, but if you fast-forward, it’s our aspiration to play at the highest level in this country, and that’s MLS," said Joe Fraga, executive director of the new Cosmos, told the New York Times. "And we are serious.

"We want to make it relevant again; we want kids to know what the Cosmos were and are, to bring the soccer dream back to the city.

"Pelé is our face, and you couldn't do better than that, not just for the Cosmos, but for soccer in general. Our goal is to respect history and the legacy, and make it relevant now."

Pele added: "We are working very hard to bring the beautiful game back to New York, and now we finally have people who support us.

"Looking back, we know mistakes were made in the league, but that happens everywhere in the world.

"But the football is the reality, and one day I hope to be happy to see the New York Cosmos playing the Red Bulls in the championship game."

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