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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Manchester United great Eric Cantona has been appointed director of soccer at the resurgent New York Cosmos, the club said on Wednesday.

The Cosmos, a former powerhouse in the now-defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) who once boasted Pele and Franz Beckenbauer as players, folded in 1985 but relaunched last August, although as yet it has no players or stadium.

In a statement on the club website (www.newyorkcosmos.com), announcing his appointment, the Cosmos said the Frenchman would become their Director of Soccer.

He will have "overall responsibility for all soccer-related matters, which will include the proposed first team," it said.

Cantona, 44 was voted Manchester United's Player of the Century after retiring in 1997.

(Writing by Mike Collett in London; Editing by Kevin Fylan)