DAVE KASPER

SENIOR CONSULTANT

During Kasper’s 16-year tenure, D.C. United have won five major trophies: the 2004 MLS Cup, two MLS Supporters' Shields (2006 and 2007) and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups (2008 and 2013). Kasper has guided United to 10 playoff appearances, including three as the first-place team in the Eastern Conference. United also reached the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup finals.

In 2018, Kasper helped facilitate the deal to sign international soccer icon, Wayne Rooney, as D.C. United’s newest Designated Player. Rooney’s debut coincided with the opening of the Black-and-Red’s new state-of-the-art stadium at Audi Field and the team posted a 12-2-1 record at their new home in their inaugural season on the way to qualifying for the 2018 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Rooney, along with Luciano Acosta earned MLS Best XI selections for their performances in 2018.

In total, he has managed 18 MLS Best XI selections, including three MLS MVPs: Christian Gomez (2006), Luciano Emilio (2007) and Dwayne De Rosario (2011). He has also had two goalkeepers of the year, Troy Perkins (2006) and Bill Hamid (2014), one defender of the year, Bobby Boswell (2006), and one rookie of the year, Andy Najar (2010). In addition to Najar, four other D.C. United players have also been named as rookie of the year finalists in six seasons: Chris Pontius (2009), Perry Kitchen (2011), Nick DeLeon (2012) and Steven Birnbaum (2014).

Kasper joined D.C. United in 2002 and has continued the club’s winning tradition while building a deep and talented roster and expanding the club’s reach in player development. After coming on board as Technical Director, Kasper was named General Manager in 2007. He was an integral force in the biggest single-season turnaround in Major League Soccer history in 2014, when the Black-and-Red finished atop the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2007. Following the 2014 season, Kasper was named Vice President of Soccer Operations in addition to his role as General Manager.

Kasper has also overseen the dramatic growth and success of D.C. United’s youth development efforts, including the D.C. United Academy. He has been largely responsible for one of the strongest academy systems in Major League Soccer, bringing nine local products through the ranks to the First Team: Andy Najar, Bill Hamid, Ethan White, Conor Shanosky, Michael Seaton, Collin Martin, Jalen Robinson, Chris Durkin and Ian Harkes. Najar, who played for Honduras at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, was the first Homegrown player to be named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2010 and the first Homegrown player to permanently move to a European side when he was signed by Belgium’s R.S.C. Anderlecht in January 2013. Hamid, who rejoined the Black-and-Red on loan in August, was the first Homegrown player to be named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014.

Kasper has a vast array of soccer experience as a player, coach and front office executive. During his playing career, Kasper was a standout forward at the University of Maryland, earning All-ACC honors while also serving as a member of the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team. He played professionally for the Milwaukee Wave (1989-90) and the Pittsburgh Stingers (1990-94) and transitioned into Duquesne University’s first-ever head coach. Kasper was named general manager of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 1998 (USL-1). The following year, Kasper led the organization to the playoffs and to Organization of the Year honors. In 2016, he was inducted into the Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame and the following year in 2017 he was inducted into the the Robert “Tick” Cloherty Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.