Kevin Paynewho played a huge role in the growth of the US national team programs and Major League Soccer, died Sunday at the age of 69 from a long-term lung illness.
Few people have played key roles in so many areas of American soccer: men’s and women’s national team programs, pros and in recent years youth. As soccer took off in the 1990s, Payne was one of the first executives on the business side who combined a strong knowledge of and passion for soccer. He was one of the smartest and hardest-working people in the sport.
Payne was president and general manager, then president and CEO of DC United, the first great MLS team, when it won MLS Cups in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004. Most recently, he was CEO and executive director of US Club Soccer, retiring at the end of 2021 after holding the position for seven years.
Payne was working as a special events executive in Vail, Colorado, where he met the USSF president Werner Frickeran avid skier, and was approached about joining the small federation staff in Colorado Springs.
He was hired as the federation’s national administrator in late 1989 and stayed on as deputy executive director and director of marketing in 1990 following Alan Rothenberg‘s election as president. But Payne soon moved to Soccer USA Partners, which controlled the federation’s broadcasting and marketing rights. Both national team programs — the men ahead of the 1994 World Cup and the women, winners of the first FIFA world championship in 1991 — took off in the 1990s.
When Major League Soccer was being formed in the aftermath of the 1994 World Cup, Payne was a key player in helping the league get off the ground with 10 teams. Among the investors in DC United was API Soccer, a Soccer USA Partners affiliated company, and Soros Fund Management, founded by billionaire George Soros.
With Bruce Arena as head coach and a lineup that featured future Hall of Famers Jaime Moreno, Marco Etcheverry, John Harkes and Jeff Agoos, DC United won the first two MLS Cups. In its first four seasons, it played in every MLS final. The only year it did not win the MLS Cup was in 1998 when it lost to the Chicago Fire. But he won the Concacaf Champions’ Cup and Copa Interamericana in what was Arena’s last season with United before he became the US men’s national team coach.
Payne was at DC United from 1994-2001 and 2004-12. In between, he was vice president and managing director of AEG Soccer, overseeing the six clubs it operated — Colorado, Chicago, DC United, LA Galaxy, MetroStars and San Jose — as MLS retrenched after the 2001 season. In 2003, the Galaxy became the second MLS team to open its own stadium. The process of expanding MLS’s ownership group began in 2003 when the Rapids, AEG’s original team, were sold to Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
Payne, who was also president of Toronto FC from 2012-13, served on the MLS Board of Governors for 18 years. He was a US Soccer board member from 1994 to 2004 and was vice chairman of the US Soccer Foundation. In 2011, Payne received US Soccer’s Werner Fricker Builder Award and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2021 along with Moreno.
Payne is survived by his wife, Pamand their daughters, Ashley and Rebecca.
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Payne was remembered for his contributions to soccer, the opportunities he gave to players, coaches and staff and his friendships.
“Kevin worked tirelessly for decades to grow the game in our country and his work has left a lasting impact,” said US Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. “His legacy and contributions changed our game at all levels, and he will be fondly remembered as a friend and colleague.”
Said MLS commissioner Don Garber, “All of us at Major League Soccer mourn the loss of Kevin Payne, one of the League’s most successful club executives. Kevin was instrumental in the formation of the League and helped build DC United into the first MLS dynasty — winning three of the first four MLS Cup Championships. DC United remains one of the most successful teams in League history.”
“Kevin Payne was my friend,” said Arena, whom Payne hired away from the University of Virginia after the 1995 season. “He was also my boss at DC United and one of the most instrumental people in moving our sport forward over the past 30 years. We enjoyed a number of successes together on the field. However, my fondest memories will always be around our friendship and our families. His wife Pam and daughters Ashley and Rebecca were so special to be with. My wife Phyllismy son Kenny and I am so saddened over the loss of Kevin, and we are so grateful for the friendship we shared with our families and friends. Our soccer world has lost a great man. Rest in peace, my friend.”
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