Bill Manning

Last updated

Bill Manning
2024, Bill Manning.jpg
Manning in 2024
Born (1965-06-23) June 23, 1965 (age 59)
Massapequa, New York, United States
Alma mater University of Bridgeport (BS, MBA)
SpouseJennifer Manning
Children2
Association football career
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1972–1983 Massapequa SC
1979–1983 Long Island JSL Select Team
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1983–1986 Bridgeport Purple Knights
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
?–1991 Brooklyn Italians
1991 Penn-Jersey Spirit 3 (0)
1993 Valley Golden Eagles
1994–1995 New York Fever
International career
1992 Puerto Rico 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Bill Manning (born June 23, 1965) is a sports executive. He has worked in the front office of the Houston Rockets of the NBA and the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake, and the Tampa Bay Mutiny in Major League Soccer and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He previously was a professional soccer player. Born in the United States, he represented the Puerto Rico national team.

Contents

Early life and education

Manning is a native of Massapequa, New York. As a child, he played soccer for Massapequa Soccer Club as well as the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) Select Team. [1]

After high school, he was recruited by Adelphi, Hofstra, Harwick, North Carolina, but ultimately decided to attend the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, who offered him a full-ride scholarship. [2] He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree as well as a Masters in Business Administration. [3] While at Bridgeport, he was a member of the Bridgeport Purple Knights men's soccer team and helped lead the team to the 1986 NCAA Division II Final Four. [1] He was named to the school's Hall of Fame in 2006 [4] and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016. [5] He was selected to play in the 1986 Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America East-West All-Star Game. [6]

Professional career

After college, he became a professional soccer player joining the Brooklyn Italians with whom he advanced to the final of the U.S. Open Cup twice, winning the title in 1991 U.S. Open Cup, [5] where he received a red card in the finals in the 23rd minute. [7] [8] He then joined the Penn-Jersey Spirit in 1991 of the American Professional Soccer League, a precursor to the United Soccer League. In 1993, he joined the Valley Golden Eagles. In 1994 and 1995, he played for the New York Fever. [9]

He played with the Puerto Rico national team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament. [4]

Management career

In 1993, Manning began his career in sports management, joining the Continental Indoor Soccer League in a front office role for their inaugural season. [3] The following year, he joined the New York Fever where he served as the Director of Marketing and Operations in addition to being a player. In 1996, he was hired as vice president and General Manager of the Long Island Rough Riders of the United Soccer League, where he and the club received the Marketing Excellent Award twice for best overall marketing in the USL. [6]

After the 1997 USL season, he joined the Minnesota Thunder as president and General Manager, where they advanced to the 1998 USL A-League championship match. In 1999, Minnesota won the league championship and Manning was named USL Executive of the Year, in part due to the championship and developing the second-highest revenue base in the league. [6]

In 2000, he joined Major League Soccer club Tampa Bay Mutiny as president and General Manager. [10] [11] He was named 2000 MLS Executive of the Year. [6] He remained with the team until the team was contracted prior to the 2002 MLS season. [9]

After his contract with MLS expired in 2003, he moved to the National Basketball Association, joining the Houston Rockets as Director of Corporate Partnerships [12]

In 2004, he moved to the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles serving as Vice President of Sales and Service, overseeing a 50% increase in corporate sponsorship from 2004 to 2007. [6]

In 2008, he returned to soccer and MLS, being named the President of Real Salt Lake as well as the President of Rio Tinto Stadium. In 2009, RSL won the MLS Cup, which was the first major professional sports championship in Utah in 40 years, [6] and finished as runner-ups in 2013. [13] He was named MLS Executive of the Year in 2012, [14] and won the award again in 2014 for the second time in three years, and his third time overall. [1] He and the club parted in 2015. [15]

In 2015, he was named as President of Toronto FC, [16] [17] winning the MLS cup in 2017, and finishing as runner-ups in 2016 and 2019. [13] In 2018, after the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League were acquired by Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, the owners of Toronto FC, Manning was named President of the Argos, in addition to his role as president of TFC. [18] In March 2021, he signed a five-year extension to remain president of both teams. [19] In July 2024, he parted ways with Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, departing both roles by mutual agreement. [20]

Personal

Manning earned a U.S. Soccer National "A" Coaching License in 2001. [5] He is married to Jennifer, with whom he has two sons, John and Will. [21]

Related Research Articles

Ali Curtis is a sports executive and former American soccer player. He was the 1999 Hermann Trophy and 2000 MAC Award winner before playing in Major League Soccer from 2001 to 2004. Curtis became the first African American General Manager in Major League Soccer's history when he joined the New York Red Bulls in 2014. He was most recently the General Manager of Toronto FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment</span> Canadian sports and real estate company

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) is a professional sports and commercial real estate company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With assets that include franchises in four of the six major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, it is the largest sports and entertainment company in Canada, and one of the largest in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMO Field</span> Stadium in Toronto

BMO Field is an outdoor stadium located at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Constructed on the former Exhibition Stadium site and first opened in 2007, it is the home field of Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). BMO Field is owned by the City of Toronto and managed by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns both Toronto FC and the Argonauts. The stadium's naming rights are held by the Bank of Montreal, which is commonly branded as "BMO". It is one of two Canadian stadiums which will host matches of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. An expansion for the tournament will bring the stadium's capacity to 45,736 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto FC</span> Professional soccer club in Canada

Toronto Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matches at BMO Field, located at Exhibition Place on Toronto's shoreline west of Downtown Toronto. Toronto FC joined MLS in 2007 as an expansion team and was the first Canadian-based franchise in the league.

Michael Alejandro Muñoz is an American soccer coach and former player. He currently works for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy as the Director of Methodology and Development overseeing all LA Galaxy Academy decisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny Steele</span> Northern Irish footballer

Jonathan Steele is a Northern Irish professional footballer. He has also received three caps for the Northern Ireland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expansion of Major League Soccer</span>

Major League Soccer has expanded several times since the league began play in 1996. Major League Soccer was established as the top level of professional soccer in the United States in 1993 with 10 teams and began play in 1996. It has expanded several times since 1998 into new markets across the United States and, since 2006, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collen Warner</span> American soccer player

Collen Warner is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder. He last played for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joao Plata</span> Ecuadorian footballer (born 1992)

Joao Jimmy Plata Cotera is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays as a forward for C.D. FAS in the Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador.

Clinton Robert Irwin is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC.

Ben Fritz Spencer Jr. is a retired American soccer player who played as a forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMO Training Ground</span>

BMO Training Ground is the practice facility of Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) and its minor league reserve team Toronto FC II of MLS Next Pro, and the home of the TFC Academy of MLS Next. The facility, which opened in 2012 and features a stadium with 1000 seats, is located at Downsview Park, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark-Anthony Kaye</span> Canadian soccer player (born 1994)

Mark-Anthony Kaye is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution and the Canada national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto FC II</span> Canadian soccer team

Toronto FC II is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, who play in MLS Next Pro, a third tier league of the United States soccer league system. It is the reserve team and minor league affiliate of Toronto FC as well as in partnership with Toronto FC Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malik Johnson (soccer)</span> Canadian soccer player

Malik Anthony Johnson is a Canadian soccer player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitchell Taintor</span> American soccer player

Mitchell Taintor is an American professional soccer player who currently plays as a defender for San Antonio FC in the USL Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Perruzza</span> Canadian soccer player

Jordan Loreto Perruzza is a Canadian soccer player who plays for the Real Monarchs in MLS Next Pro.

Garrett McLaughlin is an American soccer player who currently plays for USL League One side Forward Madison FC.

Kosi Trevor David Thompson is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luka Gavran</span> Canadian soccer player

Luka Robert Gavran is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as an goalkeeper for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Vogt, Randy (January 19, 2015). "Massapequa's Bill Manning". Soccer Today.
  2. ↑ Jacobs, Jeff (September 26, 2020). "Bill Manning comes full circle, returning to Connecticut with Toronto FC". Connecticut Post .
  3. 1 2 "Bill Manning". Toronto Argonauts .
  4. 1 2 "Real Salt Lake Names Philadelphia Eagles Executive Bill Manning President of Club". Our Sports Central. March 17, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 "Bill Manning - The Road to 2026: Panelist". Ontario Soccer Association .
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vogt, Randy (February 26, 2014). "Real Salt Lake President Bill Manning Has Fond Memories of Playing Youth Soccer on Long Island". Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association.
  7. ↑ Fontela, Jonah (July 2, 2019). "The Brooklyn Italians - More Than a Club". United States Soccer Federation .
  8. ↑ Lewis, Michael (September 11, 2017). "Open Cup Rewind:Manning's Mustang & The '91 Brooklyn Italians". United States Soccer Federation . Archived from the original on May 16, 2018.
  9. 1 2 Black, Michael (September 24, 2008). "Real Salt Lake's Manning a natural fit with team". Deseret News .
  10. ↑ "MLS: Mutiny names Manning GM". Soccer America . February 1, 2000.
  11. ↑ Page, Rodney (February 2, 2000). "Mutiny appoints Manning general manager". Tampa Bay Times .
  12. ↑ "Mutiny's Manning ships out to ride Houston Rockets". Tampa Bay Business Journal . March 31, 2003.
  13. 1 2 Armstrong, Laura (January 16, 2021). "Win or lose, Toronto FC is Bill Manning's team after off-field makeover". Toronto Star .
  14. ↑ "Real Salt Lake President Bill Manning Named Major League Soccer Executive of the Year". Our Sports Central. January 23, 2013.
  15. ↑ Wiles, Alex (August 18, 2015). "Real Salt Lake parts ways with President Bill Manning". KUTV .
  16. ↑ Davidson, Neil (October 12, 2015). "Toronto FC names Bill Manning as president". The Globe and Mail .
  17. ↑ Baliva, Zach (September 15, 2016). "Toronto's Goals Keeper". Advantage Magazine.
  18. ↑ Strong, Gregory (January 19, 2018). "TFC's Bill Manning named Argos president, Michael Copeland reassigned". Toronto Star .
  19. ↑ Davidson, Neil (March 18, 2021). "Toronto FC, Argos president Bill Manning rewarded with 5-year contract extension". CBC .
  20. ↑ "MLSE parts ways with TFC, Argonauts president Manning". TSN . July 11, 2024.
  21. ↑ Davidson, Neil (April 6, 2020). "Toronto FC, Argos president Bill Manning 'staying connected' during hiatus". The Globe and Mail .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.