(Sports Network) - Major League Soccer announced early on Wednesday that Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer at Arsenal of the English Premier League. "Ivan Gazidis was one of the founding executives of Major League Soccer," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. "His 14 years of service to the league and the sport of soccer in America have helped establish Major League Soccer as a legitimate first division sports league in North America and a respected soccer league throughout the world. Major League Soccer's on-field product has marched steadily forward, primarily due to Ivan's thorough understanding of the game and its global market, his impressive reasoning and judgment, and his deep-rooted desire to see soccer grow in North America."

As Deputy Commissioner, Gazidis, who will leave MLS to begin working for Arsenal in January, oversees all aspects of competition and player contracts for MLS.

"I have been privileged in my 14 years with MLS to have worked with and for some of the best sports executives and owners in the world, whose vision, commitment and expertise have taken the league from strength to strength," Gazidis said. "The league is superbly positioned for future growth and this provides me the opportunity to return home after 16 years in the United States. I am delighted to be offered the opportunity to work at Arsenal, a club rich in heritage and tradition, and I will bring all of my experiences at MLS to bear in my new role."

MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin and MLS Senior Vice President Nelson Rodriguez will handle Gazidis' duties until a replacement is named. Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner Joe Machnik, Director of Player Programs Alfonso Mondelo and MLS President Mark Abbott will also help out.

"I am confident that these functions will be filled by an executive or executives with similarly exceptional qualities who will continue the forward progress he charted," Garber said.



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