Ivan Gazidis
FameRank: 5

"Ivan Gazidis" is currently the chief executive of English Premier League club Arsenal F.C./Arsenal Football Club.

Gazidis moved to Manchester in the United Kingdom at the age of 4 and attended Manchester Grammar School, where he excelled as a football player, and was also a gifted drummer playing in at least two school-based rock bands. Being an adopted Mancunian from a young age, he Manchester City F.C. supporters/supported Manchester City F.C./Manchester City. Later he attended St Edmund Hall at the University of Oxford, where he was twice awarded a Blue (university sport)/blue playing association football/football against the University of Cambridge in 1984 and 1985. He graduated with a academic degree/degree in law in 1986 and in 1992 he moved to the United States to work for Latham & Watkins.

In 1994 he joined the founding management team of Major League Soccer, becoming in 2001 its deputy commissioner. He oversaw MLS's key strategic and business decisions and its marketing arm, Soccer United Marketing, of which he was president. He also helped promote the Mexican Football Federation and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

More Ivan Gazidis on Wikipedia.

He plays for DC and will be playing for DC for the foreseeable future.

What we're emphasizing is player development and expanding opportunities, because we believe there are far more players in this country than we are able to identify.

I really don't want to comment about that at this point. Until he signs with us, I don't see any need to discuss it in public.

We are focused on the game on the field. But our business model will not drive our success. The game on the field will.

I don't know whether we can or not. We've been competitive with many of our players who've chosen to stay in MLS. We can put competitive offers on the table. Of course money is always a factor, but I think for most kids it isn't the most important factor. The most important factor is putting yourself in a position that your career can be what you want it to be.

We've had an expansion procedure in the past and we'll use the same procedure, so there would be an expansion draft.

We haven't had any discussions with any club about a transfer for Freddy. He plays for D.C. and will be playing for D.C. for the foreseeable future.