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 Alan
I. Rothenberg transformed soccer in the United States. Rothenberg, well
known for his work in the soccer community, served as the President of
the U.S. Soccer Federation from 1990 to 1998. During that time he undertook
several crucial projects, especially his work that completed the transformation
of the USSF from a small organization run primarily by volunteers to
a professional institution, his leadership of the 1994 World Cup, and
the launching of Major League Soccer. He established American soccer
in the sports industry by gaining sponsors and television recognition
making it possible to raise money in support of soccer programs that
led the way to the MLS.
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Personal Information |
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Class of 2007 |
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Born:
April 10, 1939 |
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Died:
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Rothenberg,
born April 10, 1939, became involved in soccer in 1967 as
a lawyer for Jack Kent Cooke, the owner of the Los Angeles
Wolves, a team in the National Professional Soccer League.
In 1977 Rothenberg moved on to become one of the owners of
the NASL’s Los Angeles Aztecs, selling the team in 1980.
Peter Ueberroth, who ran the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, was one of the first
to notice Rothenberg’s abilities in the soccer world. Ueberroth asked
Rothenberg to be the commissioner of soccer during the 1984 Olympics. The Olympics
made a huge profit and Rothenberg was credited for a great deal of this success
because soccer had the largest attendance of any Olympics sport. Soccer attendance
was higher than basketball and gymnastics, which traditionally draw the largest
crowds.
Rothenberg was elected president of the USSF in 1990. Among his first acts
was to hire another future Hall of Famer, Hank Steinbrecher (Class of 2005),
as the USSF’s Secretary General.
Rothenberg’s impact on soccer was undeniable. He served as president,
chairman and CEO of the1994 World Cup, which was the best attended World Cup
to date with 3,567,415 through the turnstiles. The 1994 World Cup made a $50+
million profit, generating a surplus large enough to create the U.S. Soccer
Foundation, the charitable arm of soccer in the United States, whose mission
is: “To enhance, assist and grow the sport of soccer by seeking out and
supporting new partnerships and programs through grants.” Rothenberg later
served on the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
Rothenberg has been involved in American and international soccer in a number
of ways. He was the founder and original chairman of Major League Soccer, which
was established in 1993 and began play in 1996. He was chairman of the 1999
Women’s World Cup and a member of the organizing committee of the 2006
World Cup. He has been a vice president of CONCACAF since 1998 and has served
on the FIFA Executive Committee.
The Hall
of Fame honored him on June 1, 1998 when he was the first
ever recipient of the National
Soccer Medal of Honor, bestowed
by the Hall of Fame to extraordinary individuals whose positive
contributions to soccer at the national level have been so
great as to have effected the course of soccer history.
On June 7, 2006, Rothenberg received the FIFA Order of Merit. This prestigious
award is the highest honor awarded by FIFA and is awarded to those who are
considered to have made a significant contribution to soccer. Rothenberg is
one of only six Americans who have been honored by FIFA. |
