Tue Jan 8 14:58:29 2008

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Pope named to executive position with MLS players union

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Bethesda, MD (Sports Network) - The Major League Soccer Players Union announced Tuesday that it has hired former U.S. national team and MLS standout Eddie Pope as its Director of Player Relations. In this executive level role, Pope will oversee all player communications and relations, including making preparations for negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement to replace the current deal, which is due to expire at the end of the 2009 season.

"I am very excited to be joining the MLS Players Union," Pope said. "The players in MLS have worked very hard and sacrificed a great deal to build the league. I look forward to working for the players to help them achieve a better life for themselves and their families."

Pope's accomplishments on the field include three World Cup appearances for the U.S. national team (1996, 2002 and 2006), representing the U.S. at the 1996 Olympics and a 12-year career in MLS. In MLS, Pope was selected to the All-Time Best XI following the 2005 season, was named to 11 All-Star teams (1997-2007), is a former MLS Defender of the Year, a four-time member of the MLS Best XI squad, a five-time winner of his club's Defender of the Year honor, a Fair Play Award winner, and twice the recipient of his team's Humanitarian of the Year award.

"Eddie Pope is a soccer icon," MLS Union Executive Board member Ben Olsen said. "He is respected by every player in the league, and he will command respect in his new role with the union. We are thrilled to have him working with us."

A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Pope was an All-American and started in every game of his collegiate career. His accomplishments off the field are equally impressive. Among his many charitable endeavors, he started and maintained the Eddie Pope Foundation to help underprivileged children achieve academic success.

"We are very pleased to have Eddie come aboard," MLS Union Executive Director Bob Foose said. "He will be an integral part of the union leadership as we continue to work to improve conditions for all MLS players. I have no doubt that Eddie will be as successful in this new role as he has been throughout his career."