Bill Manning - President
Bill Manning was named President of Toronto FC on October 12, 2015. Under his direction, TFC has experienced historic success, both on and off the field. During his six seasons as President, Manning has overseen an organization that won the 2017 MLS Cup, the 2017 MLS Supporters' Shield, the 2016, 2017 and 2019 MLS Eastern Conference Championships as well as the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Canadian Championships. In 2018, TFC were also runners-up in the prestigious Concacaf Champions League. In addition to his leadership role with TFC, Manning also serves as President of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.
Manning joined Toronto FC after spending the previous eight seasons as President of Real Salt Lake (RSL) and Rio Tinto Stadium. During his time with RSL, Manning helped to transform the club into a consistent winner – RSL won the 2009 MLS Cup championship— and a model franchise off the pitch, where both season tickets and sponsorships more than tripled during his tenure. The club also won the Eastern Conference title (2009), the Western Conference title (2013) and were CONCACAF Champions League runners-up (2011), U.S. Open Cup runners-up (2013) and MLS Cup runners-up (2013). Manning was the recipient of the Major League Soccer Doug Hamilton Executive of the Year award in both 2012 and 2014. While at RSL, Manning sold naming rights to Rio Tinto Stadium which successfully opened in fall of 2008, and in 2013 negotiated the 10-year LifeVantage jersey partnership for the club.
Manning’s experience in professional sports management spans more than 25 years. In addition to his work in Major League Soccer, Manning has held executive positions with the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles and the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets.
A native of Massapequa, New York, Manning was a nationally recognized collegiate soccer player at the University of Bridgeport where, as a senior in 1986 Manning led his team to a NCAA final four appearance while earning first-team All-America honors. Manning continued his playing career after college and advanced to two U.S. Open Cup finals with the Brooklyn Italians, winning the title in 1991. He also played professionally in the United Soccer League (USL) with the Penn-Jersey Spirit (1991), the Valley Golden Eagles (1993) and New York Fever (1994-95). Manning also earned a U.S. Soccer National “A” Coaching License in 2001. In March 2018 Manning was honored in his home state for his accomplishments in the game at the 6th annual New York City Soccer Gala.
While still playing in the USL, Manning began his career in sports management, working in the front office of the Continental Indoor Soccer League in 1993 and for the New York Fever in 1994-95. After his last season as a player, he went on to leadership roles in the USL with the Long Island Rough Riders and the Minnesota Thunder, where he was named USL Executive of the Year in 1999 following a championship season. Manning got his start in MLS in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Mutiny as President & General Manager and was named 2000 MLS Executive of the Year by the Washington Post.
In 2003 Manning left the sport of soccer to serve as Director of Corporate Partnerships for the NBA’s Houston Rockets and was part of the staff that opened the state-of-the-art Toyota Center. Manning would then move on to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles whereas Vice President of Sales & Service he managed all corporate partnerships and premium seating from 2004-08, overseeing revenue growth of over 50% during his tenure.
Manning received his Bachelor of Science degree (1987) and Masters in Business Administration (1989) from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut where he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2006 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016.
Manning and his wife, Jennifer, reside in King City with their sons John, a junior at Brown University, and Will, a freshman at Fordham University.
