Adrian Hanauer first kept the flame of professional soccer alive in Seattle before helping to reignite the community’s passion for the game with the arrival of a Major League Soccer expansion franchise for 2009. Hanauer is both an owner and the Sounders FC general manager.

Under Hanauer’s leadership, the Sounders FC achieved remarkable success in the first two seasons. Seattle became the first team to win two consecutive Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships in 27 years and became just the second MLS expansion team to reach the playoffs and the first to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League in each of its first two years.

Since 2001, Hanauer has been associated with the highest level of soccer played in Seattle. He first joined the ownership group of the Sounders franchise in the United Soccer League’s First Division, and later became majority shareholder and general manager. His first season in that role, 2002, was rewarded with Seattle going 23-4-1—the second-best record in league history. From 2004 to 2007, the Sounders played in the USL-1 championship game three times, winning twice (2005, 2007) and also taking a Commissioner’s Cup (best record) in 2007.

Hanauer has over 20 years of business experience in a variety of other industries. On numerous occasions he has made early stage investments in technology companies with interests in advertising, infrastructure, and wireless communications. Hanauer co-founded Curious Office Partners, which invests in and incubates early stage technology companies. He was a seed stage investor in aQuantive Inc, the largest interactive advertising company which was later acquired by Microsoft for $6 billion US, and he was also an early investor in Amazon.com.

Hanauer also brings a great deal of “brick and mortar” business experience. The Hanauer family owns Pacific Coast Feather Co., the nation’s largest manufacturer of pillows, comforters, and bedding products. He also owns one of the largest chains of picture framing companies in the United States, as well as a small chain of pizza restaurants.

Involved in many organizations in Seattle, Hanauer sits on the Board of Trustees for the Museum of History and Industry. He has also sat on the advisory board of The University of Washington Intercollegiate Sports Master's Degree Program.

Hanauer's interest in soccer began at the age of 3, and he saw his first NASL Sounders game at the age of 8. He went on to play for Mercer Island High School and remains active in the Greater Seattle Soccer League.

In addition to his interest in Sounders FC, Hanauer also is a board member of England’s Cambridge United Football Club, currently of the English Conference (fifth tier). While with the USL Sounders, Hanauer promoted international matches, most notably an exhibition between Real Madrid and D.C. United which attracted a record Seattle crowd of 66,612 to Qwest Field in 2006. The Sounders also arranged friendlies featuring Mexico’s Club America and Britain’s Sunderland, Cardiff City FC and Preston North End.

Hanauer, 45 (2/7/1966) enjoys skiing, snowboarding, traveling and playing soccer. He is a graduate of the University of Washington, having majored in history, and lives in Seattle.