Alan Rothenberg
Encyclopedia
Alan I. Rothenberg is a graduate of the University of Michigan
's law school, and an influential administrative figure in the history of North American soccer
who is credited with greatly contributing to the growth of the game in the United States, and the namesake of the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy, which was awarded annually to the winner of the MLS Cup
. He is also President of the Los Angeles World Airports Commission.
In 2007, Rothenberg was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
, located in Oneonta, New York, in recognition of his contribution as a "Builder" of the sport in the United States.
Rothenberg was a fan and follower of traditional American sports who had no experience with soccer until the age of 28, when he came into contact with the nascent NASL
while serving as a lawyer for Jack Kent Cooke
. Cooke, who owned the Lakers
of the NBA
, the Forum
sports arena, the Washington Redskins
of the NFL
, and the Los Angeles Kings
of the NHL
, had also obtained the Los Angeles Wolves
of the NASL, a short-lived team that lasted only until 1968.
Almost ten years after the folding of the Wolves, Rothenberg headed an investment group that bought the Los Angeles Aztecs
, a newer club in the same league, but he sold the team after three seasons in 1980, thus escaping the later collapse of the league. Rothenberg later stated that his timing in buying the team had simply been wrong - "I mistakenly thought the time was right and three years later I realized that the time was wrong. I liked soccer, thought it was a great opportunity then, and thought it was now."
In 1984, Rothenberg was asked by Peter Ueberroth
, then serving as the organizer of the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, to take on the role of commissioner of soccer for the Games. The unexpected popularity of soccer that summer - including multiple sell-outs of the 100,000+ seat Rose Bowl
- established before the world that an American audience for the game existed, and Rothenberg's success in the capacity of commissioner caused FIFA
to seek out his services as director of the 1994 World Cup
, which the organization had decided to place in the USA.
In 1990, Rothenberg, with FIFA's backing, defeated the unpopular incumbent Werner Fricker in an election for the Presidency of the United States Soccer Federation
, a position he would occupy until 1998. Under Rothenberg's guidance, the 1994 Cup became a major success, setting records for attendance among other things. Fulfilling a promise to FIFA made as part of the World Cup bid, he oversaw the establishment of the first full-time Division I U.S. league since the NASL - Major League Soccer
. Rothenberg was also the major force behind the inception of Project 2010
.
Rothenberg remains a member of the USSF executive committee, and is also one of three Vice Presidents of CONCACAF
. In 1998, Rothenberg headed a bid by the Japan
ese advertising agency Dentsu
to buy the San Jose Clash of MLS, but was forced to pull out at a late date due to the Asian stock market crisis. Rothenberg also serves on several corporate and public boards. In addition to soccer, Rothenberg was also an important figure in professional basketball for many years, first representing Jack Kent Cooke's Lakers and subsequently acting as president of Donald Sterling
's Los Angeles Clippers
from 1982-1989. Rothenberg was a partner in the Los Angeles offices of the law firms Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Phillips
and Latham & Watkins
, and served as president of the California State Bar.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
's law school, and an influential administrative figure in the history of North American soccer
Soccer in the United States
Soccer, fully known as association football,See the articles Football and Names for association football#North America for more detailed explanations of the differing names for soccer. has long been a popular sport in the United States...
who is credited with greatly contributing to the growth of the game in the United States, and the namesake of the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy, which was awarded annually to the winner of the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
. He is also President of the Los Angeles World Airports Commission.
In 2007, Rothenberg was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
, located in Oneonta, New York, in recognition of his contribution as a "Builder" of the sport in the United States.
Rothenberg was a fan and follower of traditional American sports who had no experience with soccer until the age of 28, when he came into contact with the nascent NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
while serving as a lawyer for Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
. Cooke, who owned the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, the Forum
The Forum (Inglewood, California)
The Forum is an indoor arena, in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. From 2000 to 2010, it was owned by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which occasionally used it for church services, while also leasing the building for sporting events, concerts and other events.Along with Madison...
sports arena, the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, and the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, had also obtained the Los Angeles Wolves
Los Angeles Wolves
Los Angeles Wolves are a former United States professional soccer team, owned by Jack Kent Cooke, that played for two seasons during the 1960s...
of the NASL, a short-lived team that lasted only until 1968.
Almost ten years after the folding of the Wolves, Rothenberg headed an investment group that bought the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
, a newer club in the same league, but he sold the team after three seasons in 1980, thus escaping the later collapse of the league. Rothenberg later stated that his timing in buying the team had simply been wrong - "I mistakenly thought the time was right and three years later I realized that the time was wrong. I liked soccer, thought it was a great opportunity then, and thought it was now."
In 1984, Rothenberg was asked by Peter Ueberroth
Peter Ueberroth
Peter Victor Ueberroth is an American executive. He served as the sixth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1989. He was recently the chairman of the United States Olympic Committee; he was replaced by Larry Probst in October 2008....
, then serving as the organizer of the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, to take on the role of commissioner of soccer for the Games. The unexpected popularity of soccer that summer - including multiple sell-outs of the 100,000+ seat Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl (stadium)
The Rose Bowl is an outdoor athletic stadium in Pasadena, California, U.S., in Los Angeles County. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day. In 1982, it became the home field of the UCLA Bruins college football team of the Pac-12...
- established before the world that an American audience for the game existed, and Rothenberg's success in the capacity of commissioner caused FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
to seek out his services as director of the 1994 World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, which the organization had decided to place in the USA.
In 1990, Rothenberg, with FIFA's backing, defeated the unpopular incumbent Werner Fricker in an election for the Presidency of the United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
, a position he would occupy until 1998. Under Rothenberg's guidance, the 1994 Cup became a major success, setting records for attendance among other things. Fulfilling a promise to FIFA made as part of the World Cup bid, he oversaw the establishment of the first full-time Division I U.S. league since the NASL - Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. Rothenberg was also the major force behind the inception of Project 2010
Project 2010
Project 2010 is a blueprint U.S. Soccer executives created in 1998 to ensure that the United States men's national team could become a legitimate threat to win the FIFA World Cup by the 2010 FIFA World Cup...
.
Rothenberg remains a member of the USSF executive committee, and is also one of three Vice Presidents of CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
. In 1998, Rothenberg headed a bid by the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese advertising agency Dentsu
Dentsu
is one of the largest advertising agencies in the world. Its headquarters are located in the Dentsu Building in the Shiodome district of Minato, Tokyo....
to buy the San Jose Clash of MLS, but was forced to pull out at a late date due to the Asian stock market crisis. Rothenberg also serves on several corporate and public boards. In addition to soccer, Rothenberg was also an important figure in professional basketball for many years, first representing Jack Kent Cooke's Lakers and subsequently acting as president of Donald Sterling
Donald Sterling
Donald T. Sterling is an American real estate mogul, attorney, and the owner of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers. Sterling acquired the Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million, and as of the 2008 rankings, the team is valued at $297 million by Forbes magazine, ranking them...
's Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
from 1982-1989. Rothenberg was a partner in the Los Angeles offices of the law firms Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Phillips
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP is a Los Angeles-based law firm of more than 400 attorneys and other professionals founded in 1965. The firm earned revenues of nearly $260 million in 2010...
and Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins LLP is a global law firm, one of the largest in the world. Latham currently employs approximately 2,000 attorneys in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was started in Los Angeles in 1934 and has extensive Californian roots, but its largest office is now...
, and served as president of the California State Bar.