Sunil Gulati unanimously re-elected as President of U.S. Soccer

CHICAGO – U.S. Soccer’s membership re-elected Sunil Gulati as President of the U.S. Soccer Federation by unanimous consent on Saturday at the Marriott Marquis in New York. Gulati, who ran unopposed in the election, enters his third four-year term after having served as U.S. Soccer’s President since 2006.

In other news at Saturday’s National Council meeting, Merritt Paulson and Arthur Mattson were elected as new members of U.S. Soccer’s Board of Directors. Paulson replaced Kevin Payne, while Mattson replaced Richard Groff. Donna Shalala was also re-elected as an Independent Director, while Rocco Amoroso and Francisco Marcos were voted as Life Members.

“I’m honored to be granted the opportunity to serve our membership as President of the U.S. Soccer Federation,” said Gulati. “Over the years, soccer has made numerous strides in the U.S. and we are excited by the sport’s boundless potential for growth in the future. I’m looking forward to being part of soccer’s bright future on all levels throughout the country.”

A native of Allahabad, India, Gulati has more than 30 years of experience at all levels of soccer in the United States and has helped the sport rise to new heights. During the past four years as President, Gulati has continued his mission of improving soccer in the United States by taking an active approach on improving the structure and development of the sport in the country, while also reaching out to broaden the organization’s relationships within the international community.

Last April, Gulati was also elected to the FIFA Executive Committee and is serving a four-year term as one of three representatives from the Confederation that encompasses North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

As a highly regarded senior lecturer in the economics department at Columbia University, Gulati balances his academic work with numerous responsibilities within the sport worldwide.

In other news at the National Council Meeting, Richard Groff was presented with the 2014 Werner Fricker Builder Award. The annual award, which honors the late U.S. Soccer President Werner J. Fricker, is presented to an individual or individuals who have worked tirelessly in furthering the interest of the sport of soccer, without regard to personal recognition or advancement.