Damien’s Davis Headed to Soccer Hall of Fame

The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced it will induct Rick Davis, a former New York Cosmo and U.S. national team player, on Oct. 8 in Oneonta, N.Y.

Davis, a 1976 graduate of La Verne Damien High, will be the 98th player inducted into the Hall of Fame. He will be joined in the induction class by Veteran’s Committee selections Bill Looby and Bob Hermann.

Davis appeared in 36 international matches for the U.S. and played alongside Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto with the Cosmos.

“I am honored,” Davis said. “I am continually amazed at the recognition I receive for simply playing the game I love. I have always remembered the first day I entered the Cosmos’ team room in Giants Stadium. I saw all the lockers with name plates like Pele, Beckenbauer, [Johan] Neeskens and [Giorgio] Chinaglia, plus all the other great names, and there was one that had ‘Davis’ above it.

“Wow, I thought then. I have the same feelings today. Wow.”

Davis is in his fourth season as the Galaxy’s TV analyst and second as radio analyst. Davis, who lives in Yorba Linda, also serves as technical director for Junior United Soccer Assn. Select, a youth soccer program based in Orange County.

Davis ended his career with the national team in 1989. Hobbled by a knee injury, he appeared in 36 matches, most of them as team captain, and scored seven goals.

The midfielder-forward played seven seasons with the Cosmos before moving to indoor soccer in 1983. In 1979, he was selected North American player of the year after producing 25 points in 29 games with the Cosmos.

He retired from professional soccer in 1990.