Sunil Gulati was by unanimous consent elected as the President of U.S. Soccer on Saturday at its Annual General Meeting in Las Vegas, succeeding Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia, who is stepping down after two four-year terms.
Gulati, who ran unopposed in the election, has served as U.S. SoccerÆs vice president since 2000 and as a volunteer for two decades.
He was largely responsible for getting the national team program off the ground in the late 1980s and was key to MLSÆs launch, serving as deputy commissioner and securing the services of many U.S. and foreign stars who would help get the league off to a spectacular start in 1996.
Gulati was also the Executive Vice President and Chief International Officer of the 1994 World Cup organizing committee. He will remain as president of Kraft Soccer Properties, which owns MLSÆs New England Revolution.
Gulati, 46, is an economics professor at Columbia University in New York, where he resides with his wife, Marcela, son, Emilio, and daughter, Sofia.
U.S. Adult Soccer Association President Mike Edwards of New Mexico steps into the Executive Vice President position, where he will serve the remaining two years on GulatiÆs term.