Since last month, when Red Bulls owner Dietrich Mateschitz paid a stunning $100 million for the woebegone MetroStars, fans, media and even his own players and coaches have wondered what the Austrian billionaire had planned for the team. That is, until yesterday, when he granted The Post an interview.
On the eve of the Red Bulls’ game against D.C. (4 p.m. ESPN2), and their trade for Jean Philippe Peguero, Mateschitz discussed what role Franz Beckenbauer will play, reports of bringing back the Cosmos (and their famous name), rumors of Ronaldo, and his grand plan for making an impact in U.S. soccer.
Though Beckenbauer will lend his expertise after this summer’s World Cup, Red Bull won’t become a Cosmos reunion as had been reported elsewhere. Meteschitz said, “There are no plans of including Franz Beckenbauer or other former Cosmos players in the structure of the Red Bull New York operations. Franz’s role is that of an adviser, whenever we believe we need his advice or valued input.”
That’s a far cry from the reports that had Beckenbauer overseeing a club that included former Cosmo teammates Giorgio Chinaglia as chairman, Shep Messing as GM, with either Carlos Alberto or Wim Rijsbergen as coach and Vladislav Bogicevic and Johan Neeskens as assistants.
Mateschitz also eventually decided against reviving the Cosmos name, saying, “We came to the conclusion that the best name would be Red Bull New York.”
The 61-year-old is a brilliant marketing executive who built an idea in a Hong Kong hotel lobby in 1982 into the biggest energy-drink company in the world. His cash helped Red Bull Salzburg leap to second in the Austrian league in one year under his ownership, but the MLS salary cap limits buying players.
“It’s true that we can’t do special investments in player acquisitions. An alternative could be that the MLS is going to liberalize [a] rule as far as salary caps and sponsoring is concerned,” Mateschitz said. “Our major activities will focus on U.S. soccer, with a priority on kids not only to increase their passion for soccer, but to find talent for the Red Bulls.”
Toward that end, the Red Bulls’ pursuit of big-name stars like Ronaldo – after his Real Madrid deal runs out in 2008 – “would support and enhance the development of soccer in the U.S. dramatically.”
The three-time FIFA Player of the Year is a long-term target, and the Red Bulls gave coach Mo Johnston a vote of confidence yesterday by OK’ing a trade of Thiago Martins and first- and third-round picks for Peguero. The Haitian, who has 14 goals and 11 assists in two seasons, will be available vs. D.C., and enable Youri Djorkaeff to slide back into the midfield.