Taylor Twellman​
One of the most prolific scorers in MLS history, with over 100 goals for the New England Revolution and a league MVP award to his name. A five-time MLS All-Star and Golden Boot winner, Taylor was a dominant force during his playing career and now serves as a match analyst for MLS on Apple TV. He is also passionate about safety. After concussions ended his playing career earlier than expected, Twellman founded ThinkTaylor in 2011 to drive awareness and education around concussions and head injuries, particularly in youth sports.
Bradley Wright-Phillips
Established himself as one of the most clinical finishers in MLS history, scoring 100+ league goals and winning the Golden Boot twice (2014, 2016). A key figure for the New York Red Bulls, he helped lead the club to multiple Supporters’ Shields and set a then-single-season scoring record (27 goals, tied), while earning Best XI honors and building a reputation for relentless, intelligent attacking play.
Sacha Kljestan
A former American professional soccer player known for his playmaking ability in midfield. He enjoyed a decorated career in MLS and Europe, and earning MLS Best XI honors with the New York Red Bulls. He also earned over 50 caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team, contributing to major tournaments and helping the U.S. win the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Kaylyn Kyle
A former Canadian National Team and NWSL midfielder, Kaylyn earned over 100 international caps and was part of Canada’s bronze medal-winning squad at the 2012 Olympics. She competed in multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups and is now a studio analyst for MLS on Apple TV. Kaylyn can speak to both MLS storylines and the broader excitement surrounding the World Cup in North America.
Calen Carr
Has won the U.S. Open Cup, is a two-time MLS Cup finalist, and played for eight seasons with the Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire. Lives in Brooklyn and a native of Oakland, Calif. At UC Berkeley, Carr won the Pac-12 Player of the Year award, the Pac-12 Medal, All-American, and was named to the Pac-12 All-Century team. In 2019, Carr was inducted into the UC Berkeley Athletics Hall of Fame.
Don Garber
Named Commissioner of Major League Soccer in 1999, and over the past 26 years has led MLS through a period of unprecedented growth. Under his leadership, the league has expanded from 10 to 30 clubs, added dozens of new owners, and established 27 soccer stadiums, with more to debut in the coming years. He also secured a groundbreaking global partnership with Apple TV and overseen a surge in average club valuations, which have risen to more than $720 million.
Tony Meola
Former MLS and USMNT Goalkeeper | X
Meola is considered one of the greatest American players of all-time. He made 100 appearances in goal for the U.S. men’s national team and was a member of three FIFA World Cup teams (1994, 1998 and 2002). Meola burst onto the MLS scene at the league’s birth in 1996, starring in goal for the New York Metrostars. Overall, he spent 11 years in MLS with New York and Kansas City and is the only goalkeeper in league history to be named MVP (2000).
Marcelo Balboa
Balboa is a former U.S. national team defender and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. As a member of the U.S. national team, he was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 1992 and 1994 and finished his international career with 128 appearances. He played in three FIFA World Cups (1990, 1994, 1998). Balboa played six MLS seasons for the Colorado Rapids, earning five MLS All-Star selections, and was later inducted into the club’s Gallery of Honor.
Nelson RodrÃguez
MLS Executive Vice President, Sporting and Matchday
In his role, RodrÃguez oversees all aspects of sporting administration – both on and off the field – as well as overall sporting development. Before returning to the league office in 2021, RodrÃguez served in executive leadership positions with the Chicago Fire across six years. He joined the Fire in 2015 as General Manager, overseeing all sporting operations, including technical staff management, scouting, player personnel, and player development systems.
Alecko Eskandarian
A former U.S. Men’s National Team forward, Eskandarian played in MLS from 2003-10 and was a two-time All-Star (2004 and 2006). Eskandarian was named MLS Cup MVP in 2004, scoring two goals as D.C. United lifted the trophy. After his playing career, Eskandarian spent time as a coach with the New York Cosmos before joining the league office. In his role, he assists in the signing of Homegrown players, the MLS SuperDraft, and overall player development.
Ali Curtis
Executive Vice President of MLS Sporting Development and President of MLS NEXT Pro
Named President of MLS NEXT Pro in 2025, Ali Curtis leads all business and sporting operations for the league, furthering its mission to develop top-tier talent and create new opportunities for clubs, players, and communities. Before joining MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, Curtis served as General Manager of Toronto FC (2019-2021), advancing to MLS Cup in 2019.
Luis Robles
MLS NEXT General Manager, Sporting |Â Instagram
Robles oversees all technical and sporting aspects of MLS NEXT, the most elite platform for player development in North America. Prior to MLS NEXT, Robles had a distinguished 14-year professional playing career in MLS and in Germany. Named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2015, Robles spent eight seasons with Red Bull New York before concluding his career in 2020 with Inter Miami CF. Robles also earned three caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Paul Grafer
MLS Vice President, Competition
A native of New York, Grafer played three seasons with the Colorado Rapids before joining the New York/New Jersey Metrostars from 2000-03. Following his playing career, he spent time as a goalkeeper coach with the U.S. Youth National Team and assistant coach with Chivas USA. Grafer joined the league office in 2015 and oversees the MLS Competition department.
Mark Geiger
PRO, General Manager
Geiger was named General Manager of PRO in 2023, overseeing all referees in the organization. Geiger refereed for 15 years in MLS and officiated at two FIFA World Cups, four FIFA Club World Cups, three Concacaf Gold Cups and the Olympic games. The two-time MLS Referee of the Year officially retired from refereeing in January 2019 to become PRO's director of senior match officials.
Sandro Ricci
PRO, Manager of Senior Referees
Sandro Ricci was a referee in Brazil’s top-flight Serie A and a FIFA match official from 2011-18. In 2014, in his home country, he officiated the first-ever FIFA World Cup match using goal-line technology (France vs. Honduras). Four years later in Russia, he worked matches at the 2018 World Cup. In his role, Ricci identifies, trains, develops and oversees officials for MLS, the NWSL, USL Championship and League One, and MLS NEXT Pro.
Alfonso Mondelo
MLS Senior Technical Director, Competition
A native of Spain, Mondelo currently serves as Major League Soccer’s Technical Director of Competition and has played an integral role in the enhancement of MLS competitions at every level of the MLS player pathway. He was a former head coach of MLS’ MetroStars in 1998 and the Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2001. Internationally, Mondelo was an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1999-2001, and also coached for Puerto Rico’s national team.
Fred Lipka
MLS Vice President, Player and Youth Development
A native of France, Lipka played professionally for a variety of French clubs before joining the administration side, serving as a coach and sporting director at Racing Club de France from 2000-08, and then as the Academy Director of Le Havre Athletic Club from 2008-11. With MLS, Lipka works to elevate the talent evaluation, coaching and skill of MLS academy players and coaches.
Christina LaBrie
MLS Senior Vice President, Sporting Affairs
LaBrie works closely with MLS clubs to negotiate and draft player contracts, including international transfer and loan agreements. She also oversees team rosters and salary budgets, and manages the Sporting Affairs group responsible for roster-related matters for all MLS squads. LaBrie is a key liaison to other groups within the league and is also a member of FIFA Football Tribunal Players' Status Chamber.
Sean Mooney
MLS Senior Director, Sporting Affairs and Sporting Strategy
Mooney helps craft the sporting strategy for Major League Soccer, focusing on the league’s roster rules and regulations and transition to the new international calendar which begins in summer 2027. Mooney also helps negotiate transactions for key international signings. A former soccer player at Cornell, Mooney also has professional experience in finance, partnership sales, mergers and acquisitions, and more.
Stephen Keel
MLS Senior Manager, Social Media
A defender in MLS from 2005-15, Keel saw action for three different clubs – the Colorado Rapids, Red Bull New York and FC Dallas. Keel is a native of Colorado and played collegiately at Wake Forest University from 2001-04. He joined MLS in 2016 and focuses on player integration, cross-platform engagement, and content hosting, in order to to grow the strategic fan base for the league, players and clubs.
