• Economy
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Editor’s Pick
Market Gains Updates
Sports

MLS executive steps away from team after cancer diagnosis

by July 10, 2025
by July 10, 2025

Atlanta United president and CEO Garth Lagerwey, one of MLS’s most successful executives, is stepping away from his duties after being diagnosed with cancer.

Atlanta announced the news Thursday, referring to Lagerwey’s leave of absence as ‘indefinite’ and noting that doctors gave the 52-year-old an ‘encouraging’ prognosis for a full recovery.

‘I have made the difficult decision to step back from Atlanta United to tackle my cancer treatment head-on,’ said Lagerwey in a team statement. ‘I would like to express my profound gratitude to Arthur Blank for not only his support, but by doing everything in his power to make this process as painless as possible for me and my family. I could not possibly work for a better organization than [AMB Sports and Entertainment].’

‘On behalf of myself, Atlanta United, and the entire Blank Family of Businesses, we stand fully behind Garth and his family as they navigate this difficult challenge,’ added Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank. ‘Garth’s resilience and optimism are part of what makes him such an exceptional leader, and I know he’ll carry those strengths in the days ahead.

‘I have complete confidence in our leadership team and players as we navigate this transition together. We all look forward to welcoming Garth back in the future and will be praying for him and his family’s continued strength, and a smooth recovery.’

Atlanta announced that in Lagerwey’s absence, Chief Soccer Officer Chris Henderson, Chief Business Officer Skate Noftsinger and Senior Vice President of Strategy Dimitrios Efstathiou will run their respective departments on a day-to-day basis, with Lagerwey and CEO of AMB Sports and Entertainment Rich McKay receiving regular reports.

Lagerwey’s statement expressed ‘full confidence’ in the club’s leadership to thrive during his absence, and concluded with a simple declaration: ‘I shall return.’

Garth Lagerwey: Who is Atlanta United executive?

Lagerwey began his career in MLS as a player in the 1990s, playing for the Kansas City Wiz, Dallas Burn and the now-defunct Miami Fusion. Upon retiring in 2000, Lagerwey got a law degree from Georgetown, but stayed attached to soccer by working as a color commentator for D.C. United and New England Revolution radio and television broadcasts.

However, his rise to prominence in MLS came as an executive. Real Salt Lake named Lagerwey its general manager in 2007, and by the end of its third season the club was lifting MLS Cup. Despite running one of the league’s smallest-market clubs, Lagerwey’s cap management and talent identification kept RSL among the league’s serious contenders. A focus on the long-term also saw the club start an academy in Arizona, and to this day RSL is one of the better MLS teams in terms of developing youngsters into pro-ready players.

Lagerwey left RSL in 2014 for the Seattle Sounders, and his success continued. Seattle won five major trophies during Lagerwey’s tenure, including the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup (making the Sounders the first MLS club to win that competition in 22 years) and two MLS Cup wins in 2016 and 2019. The Sounders were a model of consistency during Lagerwey’s nine-season run, finishing in first or second place in the Western Conference six times, and only finishing outside of the top 10 in MLS’s overall standings once.

One week after Sounders season-ticket holders voted to retain him in 2022 — a formal process specific to Seattle where the team GM could lose their job should enough fans deliver a vote of no confidence — Atlanta United announced that Lagerwey was its new president and CEO. After missing the playoffs for just the second time ever in 2022, the Five Stripes returned to the postseason in the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, stunning Inter Miami in a major first-round upset last year.

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
College sports bill introduced by bipartisan group of House members
next post
No decision made on NCAA basketball tournament expansion

You may also like

Clark, Mitchell lift Indiana Fever over Atlanta Dream:...

July 12, 2025

MLS commissioner ‘hopeful’ Messi extends stay with Inter...

July 12, 2025

Chelsea doesn’t care that ‘everyone is bigging up’...

July 12, 2025

Novak Djokovic injury update: Tennis star discusses semifinal...

July 12, 2025

Patrick Mahomes ‘not a big fan’ of potential...

July 12, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz beats Taylor Fritz, advances to Wimbledon...

July 11, 2025

College football would be foolish to make playoff...

July 11, 2025

Most random MLB All-Stars since 2000: Let’s remember...

July 11, 2025

How Jake Paul ‘offended’ Amanda Serrano in first...

July 11, 2025

Caitlin Clark, Fever face Dream: TV channel, time,...

July 11, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News And Articles.

    Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

    Top News

    Trump’s tariffs on Brazil could make your coffee...

    July 11, 2025

    White House accuses Powell of mismanaging Federal Reserve,...

    July 10, 2025

    Italian chocolate giant Ferrero to buy Kellogg’s Froot...

    July 10, 2025

    Sports executive charged with bid-rigging in Texas arena...

    July 10, 2025

    OpenAI to release web browser in challenge to...

    July 10, 2025

    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Email Whitelisting
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions

    Copyright © 2025 MarketGainsUpdates.com All Rights Reserved.

    Market Gains Updates
    • Economy
    • Investing
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Editor’s Pick