Don Garber Signs New Deal to Remain MLS Commissioner Until 2018

Don Garber will retain his position as Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner after signing a new five-year contract until 2018.

Garber, bronchi 56, anabolics has served as MLS Commissioner since 1999, ushering the league through some of its darkest days early last decade through steady expansion and unprecedented growth. With the addition of Orlando City and New York City FC in 2015, the league will carry 21 teams next season, and Garber has repeatedly stressed his vision that 24 teams will play in the league by 2020.

“It’s the first five-year deal I’ve signed in 15 years. Every other deal was a three-year deal,”Garber told SI.com. “I had always been of the mind that you sign three-year deals so you can give everybody the flexibility to determine what you want to do. The league was younger and less mature. Now we’re teeing up a long-term commitment to each other.”

Garber told SI.com that he signed his new deal in January, three months before it was revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Garber returned to work last month and told SI.com he learned recently that is cancer-free, needing no further treatment after undergoing surgery in July.

“I’m feeling good,” Garber told SI.com. “I took a break during the month of August that allowed me to effectively recover. Now I’m back in the saddle and energized.”

Prior to joining MLS, Garber spent 16 years as an executive with the National Football League.

{jcomments on}