He rose to prominence in 1984 when he was asked by Peter Ueberroth, the head of the Los Angeles Olympics, to take on the role of Commissioner of soccer for the Games.

The unexpected popularity of the sport - including multiple sell-outs of the 100,000 plus seat Rose Bowl - established before the world that an American audience for the game existed and laid the groundwork for the United States' successful bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

In 1990, Rothenberg, with FIFA's backing, became the new President of the United States Soccer Federation, a position he would occupy until 1998.

Under Rothenberg's guidance, the 1994 World Cup became a major success, setting records for attendance among other things.

Fulfilling a promise to FIFA made as part of the World Cup bid, he oversaw the establishment of the first full-time league since the NASL - Major League Soccer (MLS), which has since attracted players of the calibre of David Beckham.


Rothenberg (pictured above during USA 1994), 72, will oversee all of Grand Prix's sports related enterprises.

William Tatham, chairman of Grand Prix Entertainment, praised the move, saying: "Leadership and timing are everything.

"Without a doubt Alan Rothenberg is exactly the right man, at exactly the right time, to lead the launch of Grand Prix Sports."

Grand Prix Sports have just been awarded the exclusive United States sanction, license and global broadcast rights to own, operate and globally broadcast rugby sevens, which will debut as an Olympic sport at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games.

"Grand Prix has the right recipe for rugby," said Rothenberg.

"After what we saw in the formation of MLS, it's plain to me that all the ingredients to create a significant global success with exclusive sanction rights and holdings in connection with professional rugby are in place.

"I am excited to contribute to what I think will be a major league success."

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