Todd Dunivant

Todd Dunivant (born December 26, 1980) is an American soccer executive and former defender who played 13 years in Major League Soccer winning 5 MLS Cup trophies.^[1] After retirement he spearheaded the San Francisco Deltas professional soccer team^[2] as the Director of Soccer Operations and Business Development, winning the NASL Championship in its expansion season.^[3] He served as the president and general manager of Sacramento Republic FC from 2018 to 2025, leading the team to the 2022 U.S. Open Cup Final.^[4] Beginning in 2026, Dunivant will be the new sporting director of Major League Soccer side New York City FC.^[5]

Playing career

College and amateur

In high school, Dunivant won two Colorado state championships in 1997 and 1998 at Dakota Ridge High School. Dunivant was also an exemplary student, being Valedictorian for his class of 1999. Dunivant played college soccer at Stanford University from 1999 to 2002. Dunivant appeared in 81 Games at Stanford and was the only player in the nation to be both First Team All-American and First Team Academic All-American in 2002. He led the Cardinal to back to back Final Fours in 2001 and 2002. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics in 3.33 years.^[6]

Club tenure

Dunivant was the first college senior taken in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft and was selected sixth overall by the San Jose Earthquakes. Dunivant started all thirty of the team's games that year, while scoring one goal and six assists, as the Quakes won its second MLS Cup. He was traded to Los Angeles Galaxy in 2005 in a four-player deal and played every minute for the Galaxy, as they won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup double.^[1] Dunivant was eventually traded to the New York Red Bulls, where he made twenty-two appearances during the 2006–07 seasons.

Dunivant was acquired by expansion side Toronto FC on June 27, 2007, in a trade for Kevin Goldthwaite. Dunivant played 18 games for Toronto in his first season, all of them starts. Dunivant was traded back to the Los Angeles Galaxy on February 3, 2009, in exchange for allocation money. He spent seven more seasons with the Galaxy, collecting 3 more MLS Cups (2011, 2012, 2014), 2 supporter shields (2010, 2011).^[7]

Dunivant retired from soccer at the end of the 2015 MLS season with 25 MLS Playoff appearances, 5 MLS Cup Championships (second most all-time), a 2011 Best XI Selection and a 4x Humanitarian of the Year Recipient.^[2] Those accomplishments suggest that Dunivant "was arguably the best left fullback in the league during his career - certainly one of the most consistent players in MLS."^[8]

International appearances

Dunivant got his first cap for the United States national team on January 29, 2006, against Norway where he recorded 2 assists. He then started in a 3–2 victory over Japan on February 11, 2006.

Front office career

In 2011, prior to his retirement from playing, Dunivant was elected to the MLS Players Association executive board, where he served for five years.^[9]

Dunivant joined SF Deltas as director of soccer operations and business development for their sole season in the revived NASL. Despite off-the-field challenges, including poor attendance and a lack of experienced ownership, the team eventually won the 2017 NASL championship, in the club's sole year of existence, and the league's final one to date.^[10]

In 2018, Dunivant joined Sacramento Republic FC as general manager, in the USL Championship, and was promoted to president and g.m. in 2021.^[11] His tenure at Republic FC was marked by success, including regular playoff competition, groundbreaking on a new stadium, a conference championship in 2023, and the club's appearance in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup final.^[12]

Beginning in 2026, Dunivant will be the new sporting director of New York City FC.^[5]

Honors

Club

LA Galaxy

• Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2005, 2011, 2012, 2014
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2005
• Major League Soccer Supporter's Shield: 2010, 2011
• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship: 2005, 2009, 2011

San Jose Earthquakes

• Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2003

Individual

• Major League Soccer MLS Best XI: 2011

References

1. ^ "LA Galaxy veteran Todd Dunivant to retire after season". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
2. ^ "SFDELTAS". SFDELTAS. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
3. ^ "Deltas beat NY Cosmos to clinch NASL title". SI.com. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
4. ^ Staff, Republic FC (2018-01-31). "Sacramento Republic FC Hire Todd Dunivant as General Manager". Sacramento Republic FC - USL. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
5. ^ "Todd Dunivant Named New York City FC Sporting Director". New York City FC. 2025-12-02.
6. ^ "Defender Todd Dunivant to retire following 2015 MLS season". LA Galaxy. 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
7. ^ "Defender Todd Dunivant to retire following 2015 MLS season". LA Galaxy. 2015-08-26. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
8. ^ Molinaro, John. "Big Read: The oral history of Toronto FC". Sportsnet. Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
9. ^ "Todd Dunivant". MLS Players Association. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
10. ^ {{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1736015/2020/04/09/won-and-done-the-san-francisco-deltas-single-title-winning-season-of-existence |publisher=The Athletic |title=Won and done: The San Francisco Deltas’ single, title-winning season of existence |last=Reuter |first=Jeff |date=9 April 2020 |access-date=4 December 2025
11. ^ Biderman, Chris (1 December 2025). "Republic FC loses top executive behind new stadium and roster to MLS club". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
12. ^ "Republic FC’s Todd Dunivant appointed Sporting Director at New York City FC". USL Championship. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.