Interview: Seba Guenzatti (NY Cosmos #13)
November 11, 2026 Paterson, NJ
On November 21, 2025, the Cosmos announced the signing of Uruguayan forward Sebastián Guenzatti. He was the first signing of the new era ahead of the team's return to professional soccer in USL League One. We sat down with the Montevideo, Uruguay native to discuss his career, his experiences with Cosmos from 2013-2016, his return to the club, and his expectations for the future.
Sebastián Guenzatti is a forward whose fourteen-year career has included two stints with the Cosmos. He has competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL), USL Championship, and USL League One. Long-time Cosmos supporters recall Guenzatti as a significant player from 2013 to 2016, during which the club secured three Soccer Bowl titles.
Guenzatti is a hardworking attacker, known for his high work rate, composure in the final third, and strong leadership on the pitch. Hugely popular with long-time Cosmos fans, the Cosmos captain looks for better things for the team in 2027.
Beginnings:
Sebastián, who grew up in the soccer-passionate country of Uruguay, recalled his early days playing the sport.
"I started very young in Uruguay. I started in a team around three or four years old. But it was my whole life playing on the streets. Growing up was all day on the streets playing soccer, going to school, coming back out, and just going to the neighborhood where everybody was playing, and that was a daily thing for me growing up."
At the age of 12, Sebastián moved to the United States, settling in the College Point section of Queens in New York City. We discussed his thoughts on moving to New York and if at the time he was worried about coming to a country in which soccer wasn't as prevalent as in Uruguay.
"In my head at that time, I had no idea what the US was. I was just seeing what was going on in cartoons, the snow, the houses, the big houses, big trucks. So for me, it was another world. All I knew was my neighborhood and just around my house in Uruguay. And then all of a sudden, I was in another country where the language was different. We needed some time to adapt. But, you know, coming over at that age, it's not easy, especially when we have so many friends back home that you leave behind, and you come to a country where soccer is not the number one sport. You kind of feel left out because everybody is playing all the sports. But little by little, I started meeting new people and people that play soccer. When I came here, I actually joined Brooklyn Knights in Maspeth, Queens. That was actually the first club I joined and the only one I played with."
"I played for the Brooklyn Knights. They were the Brooklyn Knights at first and became Met Oval when they became an academy. It was like the start of the academy era. I played there, and actually, Giovanni Savarese was my coach at Met Oval, who would be my coach with the Cosmos in 2013."
Influences:
We discussed his early influences in the game, and if there were players that he emulated or looked up to that motivated him to pursue a career in the sport.
"Obviously, I used to be a huge Peñarol fan, so there's a lot of players that a lot of people won't know, but they had great careers in Uruguay and in Europe. And then when I got a little bit older, somebody that probably everybody knows is Ronaldinho. You know, at that time it was Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Forlan was also in there. As time passes, the Messi's and then so many that when they're at the highest level and you want to make it, you look at anybody that's playing in your position. And for me, it was those guys, I would copy every move they did. I would watch a game, and then go out and try it myself on the streets. So yeah, they were a big motivation for me."
Return to Uruguay with Peñarol:
Sebastián established himself as a top player for Met Oval and also had great success playing with Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows. Soon after, professional aspirations took him back to his homeland of Uruguay, as he joined Peñarol's under-19 team.
"When I was 18, I went back to Uruguay to play with Peñarol. I played for around two years in the youth."
I asked how his move back to Uruguay with his childhood club came about.
"I went to high school here at Francis Lewis. And actually, I would get picked up and taken to play in Flushing Meadow Park. And a scout from Uruguay saw me. I was actually playing for an Argentine and Uruguayan team. It was a tournament. And he talked to me, talked to my parents to see if I was interested in going to Uruguay to try out for Peñarol. He knew I was a Peñarol fan. I was all on board. My parents agreed to it. And yeah, he made it happen and brought me to Uruguay."
We talked about his experience playing for such a historic club and a team he grew up supporting.
"It was amazing. I've always been a Peñarol fan, a die-hard fan since I was a little kid. I had the jersey, the shorts, the socks, the balls, the necklace, everything that had to do with Peñarol. And it was a dream come true for me. I knew it was going to be really tough, coming from the US; the players might not accept me the same. I left a long time ago, so I had to start from zero in Uruguay. It wasn't easy at first, but you have to obviously win your spot, even when you're 17 or 18. You know, there are people who have been there their whole life. So for them, it's also not easy seeing somebody come and just take your spot. Obviously, you know, everybody's fighting for a spot, and to make it pro is every kid's dream."
We spoke of his time with the club and the competitive environment he was a part of and the many top players he competed with.
"There were players who went on to play in Europe (Sebastián Cristóforo), and he actually played in Sevilla and Fiorentina. There's Guillermo Varela, who went on to play with Man United, went to Russia, and right now he's in Brazil. I also got to train with the first team, which was huge for me, being in the youth and getting to train with the first team and seeing idols that you've seen who came back from Europe and are finishing their careers. For me, that was a real awakening, seeing these guys, how they train, and they had it all, but they still trained like they were just starting. That was eye-opening for me to really focus 100% on what I wanted."
Huracán F.C. (2013):
After a few seasons playing with Peñarol's reserve side, Sebastian signed with Huracán F.C..
"I made the move to Huracán to really start playing at the pro level, because in Peñarol I was in the youth team, and it's a club where they buy players, including foreigners. It's a big club, so it is tough to play with the first team. So I moved on to another smaller team to really compete, get a starting spot, and start playing pro. I was there for about maybe six months, five months until the Cosmos took notice of me and gave me a shot."
New York Cosmos (2013-2016):
With the Cosmos rejoining professional soccer in the new North American Soccer League (NASL) in 2013, the club's head coach, Giovanni Savarese, who had previously coached Sebastián at Met Oval, contacted Sebastián to bring him back to New York.
"It was Giovanni Savarese who spoke to me to see if I wanted to come back. He knew I was doing great over there and he wanted to give me the chance to come back and play for him. "
We spoke of his reaction to the Cosmos offer and if he was aware of the club's history.
"Yeah, I was really aware of the club's history. Obviously, being from Uruguay and also my grandparents, talking about Pelé, my dad, they taught me that Pelé had played for the Cosmos. And before coming here, I did my research as well. You always want to know the history of the club that you're going into, just to be aware of everything."
We spoke of his four years with the Cosmos, winning three titles during that time, and how that era prepared him for his lengthy soccer career.
"I was very young; obviously, I had played in Uruguay, but coming here and seeing the big names on the roster was very exciting for me. Being in the same locker room with Raul, Marcos Senna, Ayoze Garcia, Carlos Mendes, and so many other players, like Michael Lahoud, was an incredible experience. There were so many players at that time that I got to be with and learned a lot from them."
I asked Sebastián about his best memories during that Cosmos era.
"I would say the Open Cup nights. I thought they were very magical, you know, packed stadiums, fans going at each other, you know, obviously to see what the real New York team was. Those were amazing nights."
Although Sebastian had significant success on the field, he sustained an ACL injury in late 2016, which ultimately put an end to his four-year tenure with the club. We talked about those challenging days and the uncertainty he faced during that time.
"It was a really tough time for myself and everybody else. Obviously, I had it a little bit tougher, getting injured right before the 2016 final. I wanted to play that so badly. I played throughout the whole year, and I think it was maybe three games to go to the final. And I had the injury. And yeah, it was a tough time. I was lucky to have my family; my parents were around, my brothers. They were still in New York. They made it better for me."
Sebastián would end his first spell with Cosmos, appearing in 95 matches with 12 goals and winning 3 NASL titles.
Tampa Bay Rowdies (2017-2022):
After recovering from his ACL injury, Sebastián joined USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies during the 2017 season. We discussed his move to another historic club in the United States.
"Yeah, I received the call. I remember I was already about maybe six months into my recovery from my ACL. And I got a call from Tampa, from the head coach at that time, actually from the assistant coach at that time (Raoul Voss). He spoke to me and asked me how I was feeling, and to see how my knee was doing, to give me a chance to try out for the team and to join the team."
We discussed his time with Tampa Bay, where he played as a striker, and how, with Cosmos, he primarily took on the role of a winger, as well as the adjustments he needed to make in this role.
"Yeah, even during my time at Cosmos, I would talk to Gio to give me a shot at forward. Sometimes he gave it to me. But I knew I was a forward my whole youth and even in Uruguay before coming to the US. Obviously, being at Cosmos with the names that we had, I understood, and I did the role, whichever role Gio gave me, which was winger, left, right winger, and I thought I did very well. Now, coming to Tampa Bay, it was a new opportunity for me to continue to keep growing, and the first coach actually had me still as a winger. And then, when Neill Collins took over, I had a meeting with him and I told him that my natural position was at forward, that I could play any position, but that my best position was playing up top at the time. And yeah, he gave me the chance, and I showed that I had the potential to be a good striker."
Sebastián became an important player for the Rowdies, eventually becoming the clubs all-time leading scorer and being named team captain. We talked about this period of his career and his goals during those years.
"Tampa, it's a huge club in the Championship. It's an unbelievable place to be. And for me, as soon as I got there, I set a goal that I was going to try to do my best, my best to be on those walls. You know, you walk through the stadium, and you see everybody's name, you know, the appearances, the goals, the contributions they had to the club. And for me, them showing me was the motivation I needed to be on the wall, to be in a position where everybody could see me. I hoped that one day I was going to reach whatever it was, if it was appearances, if it was goals, if it was goal contributions, assists, whatever it was, I wanted my name there in the stadium. And, I was so lucky to have unbelievable teammates throughout, an unbelievable coach that trusted me as a captain, as a leader. I was lucky, just lucky to have those teammates that made that an achievement for me."
Sebastián ended his stay with the Rowdies in 2022 after appearing in 161 matches and scoring 65 goals. He also helped the club capture the USL Championship Eastern Conference title in 2020 and the USL Championship Regular Season title in 2021.
Indy Eleven (2023-2024):
For the 2023 season, Sebastián moved to Indianapolis, signing with Indy Eleven, with the goal of helping the club qualify for the league playoffs. He was instantly named club captain.
"It was great also, obviously after being in Tampa for so many years and enjoying it so much. Now I had Indy, and I took it the same way I did in Tampa. I wanted, obviously, my name to be there; that motivation was always there, and it's still there. Mark Lowry, who signed me, was there as the head coach, and then Ayoze Garcia was actually the assistant coach, with whom I shared so much at Cosmos. And seeing the players that they were signing at that time to Indy, I thought I was making the right move by going to Indy."
We discussed his two seasons with the top USL Championship side and what he was most proud of during this period of time.
"Achieving the playoffs in Indy, before that they hadn't achieved the playoffs in, I don't know if it was three to four years, and being there and being one of the guys that brought Indy back into the playoffs, I'm very proud of that."
Sebastián ended his stay with Indy Eleven in 2024 after appearing in 69 matches and scoring 16 goals. He was highly respected and captained the club to the league playoffs in his two seasons at the club.
Detroit City FC (2025):
Following two successful seasons with Indy Eleven, the veteran Guenzatti joined Detroit City FC. Sebastián did not play as much as he would have liked but still spoke positively of his experience with the club.
"It was great. It's a great club, great at Keyworth Stadium. The owners are unbelievable. You know, the setup is great. And the fan base was amazing. It was a club that before signing, they asked me what I was I most looking forward to and I told them it was the fan base, having to play against them and hearing the fans were so loud the whole game and singing and having chants. It was it was really a joy to live there for my family and myself, being able to enjoy every weekend with the fans."
Sebastián ended his stay with Detroit City after appearing in 23 matches and scoring 1 goal. He was able to reach the playoffs with his third USL Championship side.
Return to Cosmos (2026 - ):
With rumors circulating that the Cosmos would make a return to professional soccer in 2026, it was natural that the Cosmos would look to bring the fan favorite back to the club. We discussed how Sebastián came to hear about the club's return and how he was approached to return and if it was an easy decision for him to rejoin the team, as he would have to join USL League One.
"Well, actually, it was through teammates. They knew I had a background in the Cosmos, and one of my teammates actually sent me an article. At first, I was just waiting for them to confirm that they were actually coming back. I thought it was a great time for me to return to my beginnings, looking toward the end of my career. Obviously, if I could, I would play another 10 years, but the mind and the body can't, so I thought it was the right time to come back to help the Cosmos build something new. Around the end of the year, I started talking to the guys at Cosmos."
"For me, it was easy. Obviously, it's the Cosmos. It's still the same brand. And also, my son lives in New York and Long Island, so I get to be closer to him, spend more time with him. You know, before it was during vacations, and now I get to be there more, watch him play, watch him grow, and also try to help the Cosmos."
We talked about how he felt wearing the iconic Cosmos uniform once more on March 14, 2026, against Hearts of Pine, this time at Hinchliffe Stadium.
"It was an amazing feeling, so many memories back then, so many years spent at this club and then coming back. And that first night when everybody, some of the old players, came back and were on the field, it was really nice, really nice—Marcos Senna, Dimitrov. There were just so many players from back then; getting to see them was special. I was really happy to see them again."
The Cosmos Leader:
We discussed his role as the Cosmos captain during a difficult 2026 season. Not only was the team basically an expansion side, but there were also other off-field issues, including the turmoil with Rossi and Stover leaving.
Being the leader on the team, how were you able to keep focus on your objectives and help the team improve despite so many distractions this year?
"Like you said, you know, there were a lot of things going on off the field. It wasn't easy, not only for me, but for a lot of guys, they're just starting, a lot of them. But on my part, I always try to have the same motivation I did since the first day, no matter if I'm on the biggest club or the worst club. For me, it's all about improving, trying to help the club improve, trying to help my teammates get better. And, there were a lot of positives as well. Despite not having a good year, we had Spengler with double-digit assists and goals. I had double digits. Those guys stepped up throughout the year, so many guys that hadn't played at the pro level and started playing. So, there were a lot of positive things in a bad year that we could just look forward to and get better next year."
What do you think is the biggest take away, the thing that the club learned during the year that could lead to better things in the future?
"I think you learn over time, and I think this was a learning year for everybody, not just the players, but the organization and everybody involved. The only thing we can do now is look forward to next year and regroup. I don't know if they're bringing back a lot of the guys or whoever they're signing, but we need to have an identity of what we're doing as a club. Not only off the field, but also on the field, we have to have an identity. I thought the guys did a great job this year. We just have to keep working on the non-soccer part; outside of soccer, we have to keep growing as a club. And, for next year, look to improve."
Looking Forward to 2027:
We discussed the outlook for the Cosmos in 2027. I mentioned that it looks like there will be a lot of roster changes for next season, probably half the roster being changed.
Have you spoken to the new management about the vision for the team? And are you excited about the future and the plans that the club has?
"I'm very excited. They've been talking to us and obviously, like I said, it was a growing year. I can only be excited for next year because I'm going to be here and I want the best for everybody: for the club, for myself, and for all my teammates. So yeah, I'm looking forward to starting from zero again."
We also discussed what he thinks the team needs the most, the type of players the club should be looking for.
"I always said a top team in the league needs two in each position. So you always need somebody to push you and fight for the spot. And that's the only way a team is going to improve each day, by pushing each other. So I would think we need, you know, a solid 22 players; two for each position would be ideal."
Maintaining his Form and Mindset:
We discussed his 2026 season and how, despite his age (35), he was able to play every match this year, and it didn't seem like he was losing fitness as the season progressed, while some other younger players were plagued with injuries throughout the season.
Do you think that's an issue with some of the players understanding what it takes to be a professional and to maintain the right mindset and the right habits?
"Definitely. I think that's huge. That's huge for a team that's trying to win the league and stay on top. It's huge to be reliable for your team. And I think, like I said before, there are a lot of new players for whom it was their first year as pros, and I think they learned what it takes to be a pro. It's not just on the weekends; it's an everyday thing. You have to take care of yourself and, not only that, but be motivated every training session to be better."
Cosmos Legend:
We discussed his popularity with the Cosmos fans and how many consider him a club legend.
What does it mean for your career to say that you were captain of the Cosmos and you were a fan favorite?
"It's a huge recognition from the fans. You know, for me, I still feel the same way I did the first day, same motivation. I will never lose that. It doesn't feel like I've played for about 20 years. It feels like I just started, and for me, every day, it's a joy to come into training, to just be around the guys. A lot of them make me feel old, and with some of them, there's almost a 15-year gap, which is a lot, in soccer and in life as well. So I also learned a lot this year from the young guys. Getting to adapt to new generations, and for me, it was a learning experience."
How Much Longer?:
Guenzatti, the undisputed veteran of the club, will enter his fifteenth professional season in 2027. Despite his age, he was one of the more consistent and reliable players on the squad, appearing in 36 matches and scoring 11 goals.
Ideally, how long would you want to continue playing for?
"Until the body can, until I'm still being offered a contract, which is the main thing in soccer, you know. But, like you said, I played every game, almost every minute of every game, and I didn't have an injury or an issue physically. For me, I enjoyed the year, even though it didn't go the way we planned. But like I said, I still love to play, love to come in and train every day, and be around the team."
Off-Season Plans:
We discussed his off-season plans before the team returns for pre-season in January.
"So right now, I'm spending as much time as I can with my family. I have a daughter and a son as well. I will probably go see my parents in Tampa. It's just family time, and obviously, little by little, waking up the body after taking at least two to three weeks. I think the body needs a good rest. After that, little by little, I'll start coming back into it, start getting my fitness in, and yeah, prepare for the preseason."
Fan Interest:
We spoke about the team now being based in Paterson, New Jersey, and if he thinks that if the team gets off to a good start next season, it will increase the interest level for the team and help attract more fans.
"Yeah, I hope so. Like we did this year, we're going to try next year to do our best on the field. And it's definitely going to be better next year on the field. And hopefully, that will help bring more people and more fans around Patterson."
USL League One:
I asked Sebastián about the level of play in USL League One and how it compared to the USL Championship, and whether he was surprised by the level.
"I was surprised. You know, there are teams that are well-built, they're working, they're doing a good job in what they're doing. And yeah, there were actually a lot of top teams in the league that I was surprised by. Not only how they play, but their facilities and everything that has to do with outside of the field."
Message to the Cosmos Supporters:
Sebastián had a message for the fans for the upcoming season, especially the die-hard fans from the supporters' section who stuck with the team through all the ups and downs.
"To thank them for their motivation and their commitment to be there every weekend, I know it wasn't an easy year for us, but like I said, it was a learning experience for everybody, and next year is definitely going to be a better year."
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