Founding president, general manager of DC United dead at 69
D.C. United’s founding president and general manager Kevin Payne died Christmas Day. He was 69.
The Washington Post, who first broke the news, reported Payne’s cause of death was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. D.C. United confirmed his death on Twitter, with the team offering condolences to Payne’s family.
“He will always be remembered as a dedicated champion of our club, MLS, our community and soccer in the U.S,” the statement read.
We are saddened to share the news that our founding president and general manager Kevin Payne has passed away.
He will always be remembered as a dedicated champion of our club, MLS, our community and soccer in the U.S. Our deepest condolences go out to his family. pic.twitter.com/qpeogaqKgj
— D.C. United (@dcunited) December 25, 2022
Payne was considered one of the main architects of D.C. United’s championship success in the late 1990s. As president of Soccer USA Partners, a marketing firm that owned marketing, broadcast and event promotion rights to the U.S. National Team, Payne helped with the creation of Major League Soccer and helped put together the investment group that would put together the D.C. franchise as one of the league’s original 10 clubs.
With Payne at the helm, United hired University of Virginia men’s head soccer coach Bruce Arena and brought in an array of talent – including Bolivian soccer stars Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno and U.S. national team players Eddie Pope and John Harkes – that won three of the first four MLS Cup championships.
His teams also won two Supporters’ Shield titles for the best regular season record and the 1996 U.S. Open Cup crown. Payne oversaw the team’s growth internationally, as D.C. won the 1998 Concacaf Champions Cup, becoming the best club team in North America, and 1998 Copa Interamericana after defeating Brazilian side Vasco De Gama in a two-legged series.
Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement that Payne’s first run with D.C. United recreated the first MLS dynasty, which remains “one of the most successful teams in League history.”
“Kevin leaves a legacy not only of success in business and sports, but he will also be remembered for his strong moral compass, his kindness, and his devotion to his friends and family,” Garber said. “His passing will be deeply felt by everyone at MLS and throughout the entire soccer community.
He left his leadership role at the club in 2021 to become the managing director senior vice president and managing director of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) Soccer, which oversaw the running of six MLS teams, including D.C. United. However, Payne would make a full time return to United in 2004 as the club’s president and CEO.
He ushered in 14-year-old Freddy Adu to D.C. that season, which culminated in D.C.’s fourth MLS Cup trophy. Payne stayed with United until 2012, finishing his time with the club by winning 12 major championships. In 2015, D.C. United inducted Payne into the club’s Hall of Tradition.
He became the president and general manager for Toronto FC in November 2012 until being fired in September 2013. He served as US Club Soccer’s CEO/Executive Director from 2015 until 2021.
Payne was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in October 2021 in the Builders category for his contributions to D.C. United’s success in the early years of MLS. In his induction speech, former U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said that MLS would not be here today in its current form had Payne not gotten involved.
“One of the best qualities that we had in those early years was stubbornness. People like Mark Abbott, Phil, Lamar and Clark, we just weren’t going to let it fail. So I’m proud to have been a part of that.”
Hear from Kevin Payne on his National Soccer Hall of Fame induction pic.twitter.com/v24v8n0vMt
— National Soccer HOF (@soccerhof) December 1, 2021
“Kevin worked tirelessly for decades to grow the game in our country and his work has left a lasting impact,” said U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement.
“His legacy and contributions changed our game at all levels, and he will be remembered fondly as a friend and colleague.”
Payne leaves behind his wife, Pam, and two daughters, Ashley and Rebecca.
WTOP’s Ivy Lyons contributed to this report.