I like this topic every now and then. Who is the most influential person in American soccer? You can "influential" any way you like. the candidates Phil Anschutz Owner of LA Galaxy, DC United, Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, MetroStars, and San Jose Earthquakes. As well as the Home Depot Center. Bruce Arena Head Coach of the Men's Natinal Team and technical dircector Chuch Blazer General Secretary of CONCACAF Member of the FIFA Executive Committee Chairman of the Organising Committee for the FIFA Confederations Cup France 2003 Deputy Chairman of FIFA's Marketing and Television Advisory Board Dr. S. Robert (Bob) Contiguglia President of the United States Soccer Federation Member of the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Youth Championship United Arab Emirates 2003 Don Garber Commissioner of Major League Soccer Mia Hamm The most recognized name in American soccer and the world wide face of women's football. Made her first full national team appearance at the age of 15. The world's all time leading goal scorer and cap earner. The only winner of the FIFA Player of the Year Award since the award has also given to a woman player. Lamar Hunt Soccer pioneer since the 1960's, member of the American Soccer Hall of Fame and owner of the Kansas City Wizards, Columbus Crew, and Dallas Burn, builder of America's first soccer specific stadium, Crew Stadium. others who couldn't be place in the poll.... Landon Donovan Media darling and key member of the USMNT. MLS's marquee player. Brad Friedel The number one goalkeeper in the number one league in the world. April Heinrichs Head coach of the defending World Champions US Womens Natinal Team and technical director Jesse Hertzberg President of BigSoccer, Inc. North America`s premier online soccer community Robert Kraft Owner of the New England Revolution Richard Motzkin Soccer super agent who represents Bruce Arena, Landon Donovan, and others. Claudio Reyna Regarded as the best field player in American soccer history. Recived the highest transfer fee for any American player. The only American to be named to a FIFA World Cup All-tournament team. Alan I. Rothenberg The Chairman and CEO of FIFA World Cup USA 1994, the most successful soccer tournment of all time. Driving force behined the founding of Major League Soccer. Member of the Organising Committee for The FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 or make a case for your own suggestion.
I voted for Arena, I think all the others listen to him on soccer matters. Some of the others, like Anschutz and Hunt, have been influential from the financial aspect.
Anshutz. Without him there's no MLS, the Nats wouldn't have made it to the quarters, Arena would be a nobody, we wouldn't have Victoria Street, etc. But you can make a case for a lot of the candidates.
gotta be St. Phil, little scary that one man's pocket book holds so much influence over the state of soccer in this country, but god love him for doing it.
I say the dude or dudette that sets up the locations of US friendlies, tournaments and qualifiers. Maybe more influenced than influential but I'd love to have that job and that person has a big impact on my life.
Not an easy question to answer. IMHO there are TWO answers: 1) FINANCIALLY speaking, it's Phil (St. Phil) Anschutz. No ONE person has put MORE $ (his own) into the development of American soccer!!! Thanks, St. Phil, for the Home Depot National Training Center (the new MECCA for USA Soccer)!!!! 2) TECHNICALLY speaking, it HAS to be Bruce Arena!! No USMNT coach has had MORE success or IMHO been a BETTER fit for the USMNT. His system & his decisions have been second-guessed MANY, MANY times (by yours truly, included), but the results don't lie!! I just wish we could give "The Bruce" a LIFETIME contract as the USMNT coach!! Anyway, my conclusion is that as IMPORTANT as Arena is to the USMNT & US Soccer, the most INFLUENTIAL person in American soccer is "St. Phil". Without his FINANCIAL committment, I don't know we would be.
Here's my XI In order: 1. St. Phil - Money, money, money. 2. Lamar Hunt - Even with St. Phil's money, without Hunt, there would be no MLS. 3. Alan "Czar" Rothenberg - WC 94, MLS, sits on FIFA board, boatloads of influence. 4. Il Bruce - wins and mainstream and international credibility. 5. Sunil Gulati - Now a behind the scenes figure but he has a LOT of incluence and has his finger in a lot of dykes: USSF, CONCACAF, and still manages to sit on the board of a prominent European sports marketing firm called ProActive. (Not sure how that's not a conflict of interest.) http://www.proactivesports.co.uk/pages/company/company3.html 6. Head of Nike soccer - forget his name but their commitment to the US program makes Bradenton possible. 7. Richard Motzkin - Represents almost every key player in MLS and most of the coaches and because he's not a hardliner, he saves the league a lot of headaches and steers a lot of players to MLS and away from Europe. Also starting to get marketing deals and PR appearances for his clients. 8. Ivan Gazidis - Garber's the boss on paper and is the voice of the league but the real power in MLS lies with the deputy commish who is in charge of the purse strings and basically every key MLS decision. 9. Mia Hamm - Still the best known soccer player in the US and her crossover and marketing appeal gives her a lot of clout. 10. Landon Donovan - The first American male soccer player with the marketing and mainstream crossover appeal that other athletes have. 11. John Ellinger - being spotted by him and invited to Bradenton can put young players careers on a fast track and he's developed most of the country's top young talent. And while it's a bit premature, Freddy Adu is close to getting a place here because he is becoming so well known by the mainstream and internationally. He will have a huge impact for American soccer on AND off the field.
That's good Sandon, I mostly agree with your list. FYI, I'm using this poll and thread to do some reasearch for a future thread nameing the 100 most powerful people in American Soccer. So far I have about 75 names but I would like input from you people about who to include and their relitive rank. So throw out some more names. I'm categorizing them as entrepeneur, executive, coach, player, sponsor, media, and other.
It's got to be Uncle Phil hands down. Although I would say the bigest person in American soccer would be Chuck Blazer. No offense Chuck. If you have never met him, imagine Norm from Cheers. A great guy, who has done a lot for soccer in general. It should be noted that we was commish of the 3rd version of the ASL that became the APSL and now the A-League.
Gotta be Da Bruce. Bruce has moved US Soccer ahead farther (with great help from the players) than anyone before him. Big Phil has the $$$$, but Bruce Arena has da power!
Lets check the facts??? Have Freddy Adu succesfully play a world cup? NO! Have Freddy Adu succesfull play on MLS? NO! Have Freddy Adu made it to SPORTS ILUSTRATED NO! Have Freddy Adu score against MEXICO?? NO! Haver Freddy Adu play against Germany on a wold cup HELL...NO!! THEREFORE THERE NO GROWN TO COMPARE LANDON TO ADU
You guys aren't playing on a level field since this is in the men's forum. Don't forget that the women won their cup and all that. Also, just as many women play soccer as men and they probably spend more money.
Re: Lets check the facts??? Could you please clarify? and Landon does not have to potential to change things like the Adus do and Mia (with Nike's help) is responsible for millions of girls playing soccer.
POTENTIAL??? Sorry for my spelling! "There is no ground to compare Freddy Ady and Landon Donovan" NO WAY ! We are talking here about a fully ACOMPLISH AMERICAN BORN SOCCER PLAYER AND A PLAYER WITH THE "POTENTIAL" TO DO ON THE FUTURE, like Freddy Adu, I want to see this kid play few serius games before I ride the ADU TRAIN . About the influence of NIKE on Landon life, remember that NIKE pay landon was back to USA SOCCER.....