Kevin Payne Death, Obituary – Kevin Payne, who had served as the founding president and general manager of D.C. United, passed away on Christmas Day. He was 69. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was reported to be Payne’s cause of death by the Washington Post, which was the publication that first broke the news. Through their Twitter account, D.C. United broke the news of Payne’s passing and extended their condolences to his family.
According to the statement, “He will always be remembered as a dedicated champion of our club, Major League Soccer (MLS), our community, and soccer in the United States.” Payne is widely regarded as one of the most important contributors to D.C. United’s successful run to the championship in the late 1990s. His two separate stints with the club helped it win 12 major championships in the span of 15 years, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the first successful models for professional soccer in the United States.
However, his involvement in soccer can be traced back to his days as a college and semipro soccer player before he transitioned into multiple administrative roles in the United States Soccer Federation beginning in 1989. His roots in soccer can be traced back to those days. Payne took over as president of Soccer USA Partners, a marketing company that had the rights to market, broadcast, and otherwise promote events involving the United States National Soccer Team, in 1991.
His influence was instrumental in the formation of Major League Soccer, and he was responsible for assembling the investment group that led to the formation of the D.C. franchise as one of the original 10 clubs in the league in the year 1995. Payne’s wife, Pam, and their daughters, Ashley and Rebecca, are among those he leaves behind.
United hired Bruce Arena, the head men’s soccer coach at the University of Virginia, and brought in a variety of talented players during Payne’s tenure as general manager. These players included Bolivian soccer stars Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno, as well as U.S. national team players Eddie Pope and John Harkes. Under Payne’s leadership, United won three of the first four MLS Cup championships.