Toronto FC announced Wednesday that Kevin Payne has been named President and General Manager of the club. Payne, 59, will lead both team and business operations for the club.
Payne joins Toronto FC after spending 17 years at D.C. United, where he played an instrumental role in making the club the most successful in United States professional soccer history.
During his tenure with D.C. United, the club won 12 domestic and international championships, including four MLS Cups Championships.
“We’re excited to welcome Kevin to Toronto FC,” said Tom Anselmi, president and chief operating officer for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. “Kevin brings a tremendous wealth of MLS experience and soccer leadership to our club. He is a proven winner and knows what it takes to win in our League. We believe he is the right person to lead our club and a great fit for our community and most importantly our fans.”
“I am very proud and excited to be joining Toronto FC,” said Payne. “Toronto is a great soccer market with passionate fans and world-class facilities. The club has a great ownership team who are committed to winning and providing all the necessary resources to do so.”
Payne is a founding member of the Major League Soccer/Soccer United Marketing (MLS/SUM) Board of Governors, Chairman of the Technical Committee for the U.S. Soccer Federation, is the Vice Chairman of the U. S. Soccer Foundation, and is a member of the FIFA Standing Committee for Club Football. In 1994, Payne created the first ownership group for D.C. United and the team began Major League Soccer play in 1996.
Payne was awarded the prestigious Werner Fricker Builder Award by U.S. Soccer in February 2011 for his contributions to the growth of the sport in the United States.
