Todd Dunivant when he played for the LA Galaxy. (Jayne Kamin/Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC Wednesday announced the hiring of former Red Bulls defender Todd Dunivant as general manager of the United Soccer League club.

Dunivant already is serving in the role and will continue shaping Republic FC’s roster as it prepares for the 2018 season.

“Todd has meaningful experience across all aspects of the game,” Republic FC chairman and CEO Kevin Nagle said in a statement. “From a top player, to team captain and leader, he understands the important and relevant connection that occurs between the players, our club and our fans. He knows that to build a winning culture and philosophy it will take more than identifying and recruiting exceptional talent. It will also take signing players that wear our crest with passion for the sport and love for our region.”

As general manager, Dunivant will be in charge of establishing and maintaining a playing philosophy and culture at the club and integrating it into all levels of Republic FC football operations, including the first team and the club’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams.

His duties also will include oversight of the club’s technical staff, scouting, recruitment and player contract negotiations. Dunivant served in a similar role with the San Francisco Deltas, helping build the team that won the 2017 North American Soccer League Championship in the club’s inaugural season.

A first team All-American at Stanford, Dunivant was selected sixth overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes. He made more 300 MLS career appearances with the Earthquakes, LA Galaxy, Red Bulls and Toronto FC. Dunivant scored seven career goals, recording 21 assists. He won five MLS Cups, four with the Galaxy and one with the Earthquakes, two Supporters’ Shields and an Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup in addition to earning MLS Best XI honors in 2011.

“I would like to thank Kevin Nagle, Ben Gumpert and the entire Republic FC organization for welcoming me to Sacramento,” Dunivant said. “I have long admired this club and look forward to building on the championship foundation that has already been established here. We have some exciting days ahead for our sport and our incredible fans.”

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.