Fred Matthes

Senior Advisor and Special Projects Liaison, Annapolis Blues
Founder and Consultant, FM Professional Soccer Consulting
Former Front Office Executive, D.C. United
Former Vice President, Sacramento Republic FC
Longtime Soccer Coach, Chantilly Youth Association

About Fred Matthes

Fred Matthes is a soccer club builder, former D.C. United front office executive and Sacramento Republic FC vice president, founder of FM Professional Soccer Consulting, senior advisor to the Annapolis Blues, and longtime Chantilly Youth Association soccer coach. He joined D.C. United in October 1995 and spent 17 seasons helping build its ticketing, service, and supporter relationships. He later helped launch Sacramento Republic and served as the Annapolis Blues' first general manager, helping establish attendance records across the NPSL, USL League Two, and USL W League. On The Sideline, Fred also documented how the early CYA United and CYA Swifts travel teams kept developing players in their Chantilly community.

Launching D.C. United and Sacramento Republic

Fred joined D.C. United in October 1995, six months before the club kicked its first ball in April 1996. The new organization worked from the former Washington football training complex in Herndon and drew approximately 35,000 people to its first home game at RFK Stadium. Fred remained in the club's front office for 17 seasons. Years later, as a vice president with Sacramento Republic FC, he helped build a new club whose early matches repeatedly sold out a temporary 20,000-seat stadium and drew direct attention from Major League Soccer leadership.

Building Community in Annapolis and Chantilly

As the Annapolis Blues' first general manager, Fred applied the same community-first approach he learned in Washington and Sacramento. The club grew from six initial season-ticket sales to nearly 5,000 and established league attendance records, including crowds of 11,171 in the NPSL, 12,853 in USL League Two, and 7,298 in the USL W League. In Chantilly, Fred was part of CYA's early travel program and created CYA United and CYA Swifts so local players could develop and compete without leaving their neighborhood club.

United Park in Herndon

D.C. United's first workplace was the former Washington football training complex in Herndon. The club called it United Park, and it sat only about five minutes from Fred's home.

Featured Quote

More than a ticket

Fred Matthes The Sideline

Featured conversation

The Sideline Interview: From CYA to MLS with Fred Matthes

Overview In this soccer-centric episode of The Sideline Podcast, Mark, Zack, and Scotty sit down with former Major League Soccer executive and legendary CYA soccer coach, Fred Matthes. Fred details his extensive career building soccer clubs from the ground…

Episode 33 · Season 1Mar 6, 202655:28

Episode Details