Ali Curtis (born December 18, 1978) is a

sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The number of participants in ...

executive and former American soccer player. He was the 1999

Hermann Trophy The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top men's and women's college soccer players. History In 1967, Bob Hermann, the president of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) and th ...

and 2000 MAC Award winner before playing in

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...

from 2001 to 2004. Curtis became the first African American General Manager in Major League Soccer's history when he joined the

New York Red Bulls The New York Red Bulls are an American professional association football, soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conferenc ...

in 2014. He was most recently the General Manager of

Toronto FC Toronto Football Club is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer club based in Toronto. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. The team plays its home matc ...

Career

College

A native of

Ann Arbor, MI Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the fifth-most populous city in Michigan. Located on the Huron River, Ann Arbor is the ...

, Ali Curtis had an extraordinary career playing

college soccer College soccer, called college football in some countries, is played by teams composed of soccer players who are enrolled in colleges and universities. While it is most widespread in the United States, it is also prominent in Japan, South Kore ...

Duke University Duke University is a Private university, private research university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity, North Carolina, Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1 ...

, where he scored 53 goals and 28 assists from 1997 to 2000, and, in his junior season won the

, and in his senior season won the MAC Award, both recognizing college soccer's best player. He ranks as the all-time leading goal-scorer in Duke soccer history.

MLS

After graduating from Duke, Curtis was drafted second overall in the

2001 MLS SuperDraft The 2001 Major League Soccer MLS SuperDraft, SuperDraft was held on February 5, 2001, at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida. Player selection ;Key Round 1 Round 1 trades Round 2 Round 2 trades Round 3 Round 3 t ...

by the

Tampa Bay Mutiny The Tampa Bay Mutiny were an American professional soccer team based in Tampa, Florida. The club competed in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The Mutiny were a charter member of MLS, playing from 1996 to 2001. Th ...

. From 2001 through 2004, Curtis spent time with three MLS Clubs - Tampa Bay Mutiny, D.C. United and

FC Dallas FC Dallas is an American professional Association football, soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The franchise be ...

(formerly Dallas Burn).

Post-playing career

During college, Curtis studied finance and worked on Wall Street in the summer. After Curtis's playing career, he worked for the investment bank JP Morgan from 2004 through 2007. He worked in JP Morgan's Chicago and Los Angeles offices. In 2007, Curtis returned to MLS and held various positions in the league office, and was eventually appointed the league's Senior Director of Player Relations and Competition. On December 23, 2014, the New York Red Bulls hired Curtis to replace

Andy Roxburgh Andrew Roxburgh (born 5 August 1943) is a Scottish former football player and manager currently serving as an administrator. Roxburgh's entire professional playing career was spent in the Scottish Football League. After retiring as a player, he ...

as the club's sporting director. In his first season in charge New York captured the Eastern Conference regular season title and the

MLS Supporters' Shield The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system. The Supporters' Shield has been annually awarded at the MLS Supporters' Summit since 199 ...

. After another winning season in 2016, Curtis left the Red Bull organization shortly before the 2017 season. During his tenure at Red Bull, Curtis achieved success in multiple areas - player signings (Tyler Adams, Kemar Lawrence, Aaron Long, etc.), player transfers (Matt Miazga/Chelsea FC), player development (USL Champion). On 4 January 2019, Curtis was named the general manager of

. Toronto FC finished the 2021 MLS season in second-last place, and on November 22, 2021, Curtis left his post as general manager. Curtis' final season at TFC was seen as largely disappointing, defined by the hiring of

Chris Armas Christopher Armas (born August 27, 1972) is an American professional soccer coach and former player who is the head coach of Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Youth and college Born in The Bronx, New York City, Armas is of Puerto R ...

who was terminated only 171 days after his appointment, and a controversial off-field incident which saw Toronto FC striker

Jozy Altidore Josmer Volmy "Jozy" Altidore ( ; born November 6, 1989) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker. He last played for the Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. Altidore made his professional debut in 2006, at ...

exiled from the club for 2 months.

Personal life

Curtis is married to a marketing executive who works for Creative Artist Agency. He and his wife have two children.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Curtis, Ali 1978 births Living people Sportspeople from Ann Arbor, Michigan American men's soccer players FC Dallas players D.C. United players Duke Blue Devils men's soccer players Men's association football defenders Men's association football forwards Soccer players from Michigan Tampa Bay Mutiny players Major League Soccer players Tampa Bay Mutiny draft picks All-American college men's soccer players Hermann Trophy men's winners Toronto FC non-playing staff