Who became the commissioner of Major League Soccer in 1999?

Don Garber became the commissioner of Major League Soccer in 1999.

He was appointed in August 1999, replacing Doug Logan, MLS’s first commissioner. Garber arrived from the National Football League, where he had worked in international operations and helped manage the NFL’s overseas initiatives. His hiring was notable because he was primarily a sports-business executive rather than a longtime soccer specialist.

Garber took charge during a difficult period for MLS. The league was dealing with financial losses, uneven attendance, and a heavily centralized operating model. During his tenure, MLS gradually emphasized stronger ownership groups, soccer-specific stadiums, player investment, and more sustainable league operations. Columbus Crew Stadium, opened in 1999, became an important early example of the league’s effort to establish dedicated venues.

A common mix-up is Doug Logan, who served as MLS’s first commissioner from the league’s launch in 1996 until 1999. Garber was Logan’s successor, not the league’s founding commissioner. Garber’s appointment began a long leadership tenure that made him one of the most influential executives in modern American soccer.