Don Garber

There is perhaps no one more essential to the current and future success of soccer in America than MLS Commissioner Don Garber. Garber assumed control at the MLS in 1999 and has led a floundering league to sustained success. Slowly and steadily, he has added franchises in healthy soccer markets. Garber has also guided several teams through the building of their own soccer-specific stadiums. Under his leadership, several international stars like David Beckham and Kaka have agreed to join the league and grow the sport in the U.S. The single-entity financial structure of the MLS has allowed all this growth and created a stable product. Garber has also pushed the growth of the sport at the youth levels and mandated that franchises run their own youth academies. There has been an influx of television and sponsorship dollars during this period as well. Garber spent 16 seasons with the NFL before coming to MLS. He first entered the sports world as the head of public relations for the National Wheelchair Athletic Association. Garber also worked for the PR firms Ruder Finn and Burson-Marsteller.