Mark Abbott

As the first employee of Major League Soccer, Mark Abbott was trying to create a national soccer league that would be sustainable for decades to come. He did, and then some. 

Abbott wound up wearing several hats during his MLS tenure, serving as vice president, chief operating officer, president and finally as deputy commissioner before stepping down after the 2022 season. Abbott was an MLS employee throughout the league’s first 30 years. For a good portion of his career, Abbott worked behind the scenes, doing what was needed to ensure the league’s vitality and success. What started out as a 10-team circuit has blossomed into a 29-team league, with San Diego poised to make it 30 in 2025.