Saeed Kadkhodaian
Encyclopedia
Saeed Kadkhodaian is a retired American soccer player, former team owner and currently the president of Azad, Inc. Soccer USA and Doostan, Inc. Soccer USA. He had previously played for, owned and coached the Austin Sockadillos and owned the Minnesota Thunder
from 2005 to 2007.
Kadkhodaian, a native of Iran, spent much of his youth in Germany. In 1973, he moved to Austin, Texas
to work as a mechanical engineer for a telecommunications company. In 1978, he moved to Minnesota
before eventually returning moving back to Texas. In 1987, he began playing for the Austin Sockadillos in the Southwest Indoor Soccer League. He also served as the team's director of operations. In 1989, he purchased the team from founder Francisco Marcos. The team was renamed the Austin Lone Stars in 1994. In 1997, Kadkhodaian coached the team for several games after head coach Wolfgang Suhnholz
was named as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-16 national team. In 1999, he became team president.
In addition to playing soccer, Kadkhodaian also worked for twenty-five years as an engineer for 3M
. He left the firm in 2003. In 1986, he founded a string of soccer stores, known as Soccer USA, in both Texas and Minnesota. In 1998, he became a minority shareholder in the Minnesota Thunder
. In April 2005, Kadkhodaian became a majority owner, along with minority owners Ron Carter and Jim Froslid, after they purchased the Minnesota Thunder
of the USL First Division
from Bill George. After the change in ownership, Kadkhodaian became president of the Thunder. In August 2007, WingField NV a Belgium
based real estate firm purchased the Thunder from the three partners. In February 2008, Kadkhodaian became a member of the board of directors for the Austin Aztex
, but he left that position in February 2009.
In 2006, he was inducted into the United Soccer Leagues
Hall of Fame.
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
from 2005 to 2007.
Kadkhodaian, a native of Iran, spent much of his youth in Germany. In 1973, he moved to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
to work as a mechanical engineer for a telecommunications company. In 1978, he moved to Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
before eventually returning moving back to Texas. In 1987, he began playing for the Austin Sockadillos in the Southwest Indoor Soccer League. He also served as the team's director of operations. In 1989, he purchased the team from founder Francisco Marcos. The team was renamed the Austin Lone Stars in 1994. In 1997, Kadkhodaian coached the team for several games after head coach Wolfgang Suhnholz
Wolfgang Suhnholz
Wolfgang Sühnholz is an American soccer coach and former player from Germany. He is currently coach of the Austin Aztex U23 and a coach at Austin's Lonestar Soccer Club.-Playing career:...
was named as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-16 national team. In 1999, he became team president.
In addition to playing soccer, Kadkhodaian also worked for twenty-five years as an engineer for 3M
3M
3M Company , formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in Maplewood, Minnesota, United States....
. He left the firm in 2003. In 1986, he founded a string of soccer stores, known as Soccer USA, in both Texas and Minnesota. In 1998, he became a minority shareholder in the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
. In April 2005, Kadkhodaian became a majority owner, along with minority owners Ron Carter and Jim Froslid, after they purchased the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
from Bill George. After the change in ownership, Kadkhodaian became president of the Thunder. In August 2007, WingField NV a Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
based real estate firm purchased the Thunder from the three partners. In February 2008, Kadkhodaian became a member of the board of directors for the Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex FC was an American professional soccer team based in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the USL First Division, and in the USL Division of the USSF D2 Pro League, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, but he left that position in February 2009.
In 2006, he was inducted into the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
Hall of Fame.