Founding president, general manager of DC United dead at 69 – WTOP News

D.C. United’s founding president and common supervisor Kevin Payne died Christmas Day. He was 69.

The Washington Submit, who first broke the information, reported Payne’s explanation for dying was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. D.C. United confirmed his dying on Twitter, with the group providing condolences to Payne’s household.

“He’ll at all times be remembered as a devoted champion of our membership, MLS, our group and soccer within the U.S,” the assertion learn.

Payne was thought of one of many principal architects of D.C. United’s championship run within the late Nineties. His two stints with the membership led to 12 main championships in 15 years, establishing one of many first blueprints of success for skilled soccer in the USA.

Nonetheless, his soccer roots are traced again to his days as a school and semipro soccer participant earlier than transitioning to a number of administrative roles within the U.S. Soccer Federation beginning in 1989. In 1991, Payne turned president of Soccer USA Companions, a advertising agency that owned advertising, broadcast and occasion promotion rights to the U.S. Nationwide Group.

His affect helped usher within the creation of Main League Soccer and put collectively the funding group that established the D.C. franchise as one of many league’s authentic 10 golf equipment in 1995.

With Payne on the helm, United employed College of Virginia males’s head soccer coach Bruce Area and introduced in an array of expertise – together with Bolivian soccer stars Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno and U.S. nationwide group gamers Eddie Pope and John Harkes – that gained three of the primary 4 MLS Cup championships.

Throughout that preliminary run, his United groups gained two Supporters’ Defend titles for the very best common season report and the 1996 U.S. Open Cup trophy. Payne additionally oversaw the group’s development internationally, as D.C. gained the 1998 Concacaf Champions Cup, turning into the very best membership group in North America, and 1998 Copa Interamericana after defeating Brazilian aspect Vasco De Gama in a two-legged sequence.

Commissioner Don Garber stated in an announcement that Payne’s first run with D.C. United recreated the primary MLS dynasty, which stays “one of the vital profitable groups in League historical past.”

“Kevin leaves a legacy not solely of success in enterprise and sports activities, however he may also be remembered for his robust ethical compass, his kindness, and his devotion to his family and friends,” Garber stated. “His passing will likely be deeply felt by everybody at MLS and all through your entire soccer group.

He left his management function on the membership in 2001 to grow to be the senior vp and managing director of Anschutz Leisure Group (AEG) Soccer, which oversaw the working of six MLS groups, together with D.C. United.

Payne would make a full time return to United in 2004 because the membership’s president and CEO. He ushered in 14-year-old Freddy Adu to D.C. that season, which culminated in D.C.’s fourth MLS Cup trophy. Payne stayed with United till 2012. United inducted Payne into its Corridor of Custom in 2015.

He turned the president and common supervisor for Toronto FC in November 2012 till being fired in September 2013. He served as US Membership Soccer’s CEO/Govt Director from 2015 till 2021.

Payne was inducted into the Nationwide Soccer Corridor of Fame in October 2021 within the Builders class for his contributions to D.C. United’s success within the early years of MLS. In his induction speech, former U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati stated that MLS wouldn’t be right here in the present day in its present kind had Payne not gotten concerned.

“Kevin labored tirelessly for many years to develop the sport in our nation and his work has left a long-lasting influence,” stated U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone stated in an announcement.

“His legacy and contributions modified our recreation in any respect ranges, and he will likely be remembered fondly as a pal and colleague.”

Payne leaves behind his spouse, Pam, and two daughters, Ashley and Rebecca.

WTOP’s Ivy Lyons contributed to this report.