Tag: business

In nearly a decade of employment with Major League Soccer, Nelson Rodriguez is well regarded within the ranks but nearly unknown outside of them.

Since coming over from the National Football League in 1999, Don Garber has presided over a decade marked by turmoil and growth.

Commissioner Don Garber, who begins his second decade in charge of Major League Soccer, and other sports executives give their insights on the present state and future of America’s soccer league, which is coming off a period of growth yet has been hit by the same economic issues that have hurt other sports.

Their titles range from president to technical director to general manager, and their duties and responsibilities differ greatly, but former players are rapidly filling MLS front-office positions.

First owned by MLS, then owned or operated by various out-of-town ownership groups, and finally shipped off to Houston, the former San Jose franchise never took root in the Bay Area. But a group fronted by Oakland A’s co-owners Lew Wolff and John Fisher is gearing up to launch the expansion Quakes this spring.