Montreal Impact 1993-present
Joey Saputo has been the key figure for professional soccer in Montreal since 1993 when he led the founding of the Impact by the Saputo Group. The Impact quickly became one of the top franchises on and off the field. The team was sold prior to the 2001 season, but Saputo came to the rescue of the franchise just over a year later when the new ownership group ceased funding the team in the midst of the 2002 season. From near extinction, Saputo has resurrected the team to become a tremendous success and one of the top draws in the A-League and in Montreal sports, culminating in a sold-out crowd of over 13,000 witnessing the team winning its second A-League championship in 2004.