Rendition of National Soccer Hall of Fame at night courtesy of FC Dallas

FRISCO, Texas – The U.S. Soccer Federation and FC Dallas have hired Djorn Buchholz to serve as the executive director for the National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium, it was announced Thursday.

Buchholz has 15 years of experience in the Major League Soccer, United Soccer League and North American Soccer League team front offices. He comes to Frisco from Austin, TX where he ran his own soccer consulting firm that provided insight and operational leadership to teams, matches and large-scale tournaments.

“Djorn Buchholz has the passion for the game and strategic vision that make him the ideal person to execute our business initiatives on a global scale at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco,” FC Dallas president Dan Hunt said in a statement.

Buchholz also held a variety of leadership positions within the sport. He spent two and a half years as the CEO and vice president of sporting operations for Minnesota Stars FC/Minnesota United FC. He played an integral role in increasing yearly game attendance 40 percent each season and exponentially growing the number of season ticket memberships. Buchholz also held leadership positions with the Austin Aztex and Sporting Kansas City.

“Our goal is to create a modern museum that brings soccer fans from all over the world to Frisco and keeps them coming back with innovative ways to showcase the beautiful game,” Buchholz said in a press release.

Buchholz starts June 5.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.