Sept. 16 (2019)

St. Louisan Dan Flynn retires as chief executive officer and secretary general of U.S. Soccer. Flynn is credited with driving the U.S. Soccer Federation’s rapid growth during his 19 years as CEO. On his watch, the federation expanded its youth team programs, fielded consecutive Women’s World Cup champions and engineered sponsorship deals that built $150 million in reserves. Flynn began his life in soccer, as did many St. Louis players, by learning to play as a kid in CYC sports. A defender, the St. Louis U. High alum helped St. Louis University win the 1973 NCAA championship. He learned the ropes of running a business at Anheuser-Busch, where he became president of Anheuser Busch International, Inc., by age 31. He moved into soccer administration as venue director for Chicago at the 1994 World Cup. “Every big step that’s happened in the last 30 years of the game, Dan has been part of it in every way and in every leadership way,” former U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said. After retiring from U.S. Soccer, Flynn helped lead the selection of U.S. venues for the 2026 World Cup.