Beckham, Messi, expansion, streaming, more: Five ways MLS commissioner Don Garber forever changed soccer in the U.S.

In 1999, Don Garber was appointed as the commissioner of MLS. The Los Angeles Times criticized this decision in an editorial, branding Garber, a former NFL international senior vice president, as an inept choice for the role, irrespective of language. The critique highlighted Garber’s apparent lack of soccer expertise and his new responsibility to manage a faltering league, which is presumed to be the main pillar of the sport’s growth. The sport itself was still relatively new to the U.S. mainstream awareness.

Twenty-five years later, it would seem some of the critics got it wrong. Garber has now been at the helm for a quarter of a century, and during his tenure, MLS has undergone immense growth, both in terms of size and profitability. What was once a struggling institution is now central to an ever-growing U.S. soccer landscape, a real hub of the beautiful game in a country that is embracing the sport more every day.

Garber’s alterations didn’t take effect instantly. While some changes were immediate, the majority of the MLS’s expansion has been gradual, with pivotal events contributing to the league’s global recognition. This month marks Garber’s 25th anniversary as MLS commissioner, a role in which he saved the league from downfall and now heads an MLS that has enhanced its reputation both domestically and abroad.

“MLS has spearheaded the development of a soccer nation in America and Canada,” Garber conveyed to the Associated Press. “It may seem intangible, but it isn’t. Our most significant achievement is the establishment of a potent soccer nation. We have led the expansion of the beautiful game in our region at various levels. We have earned respect as a league from players, fans, and governing bodies of the sport. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

GOAL US takes a look at some of the major changes Garber has made to help MLS become a major player in world soccer.