This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Nearly two months after Bill Manning said he felt a hefty weight lifted off his shoulders, the former Real Salt Lake team president has a new gig.

It's guiding Toronto FC.

The 50-year-old Manning was named Toronto FC president Monday after he and RSL parted ways in mid-August after eight seasons together. The Toronto Sun broke the news early Monday morning. Manning's contract at RSL expired on June 30, and both he and RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen described the split as the two holding "different visions" of what the club needed going forward.

Manning will oversee all team and business operations at Toronto FC and begins his latest role on Friday, Oct. 16. The two-time MLS Executive of the Year (2012 and 2014) was a major contributor in RSL's burgeoning number of season-ticket holders as well as the continual hike in annual sponsorship revenues.

A free agent since Aug. 18, Manning made the rounds. He was spotted in the Stade Saputo press box four days later with Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo. Manning told the Tribune in August that he was pursuing other opportunities in MLS, but noted some outside of soccer had also bubbled to the surface.

MLS — and Toronto FC — won out. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) snagged their guy.

"Just as we have worked to add star talent on the pitch to help build Toronto FC into a consistency contender in Major League Soccer, today we are thrilled to add an equally as important and impressive executive in Bill Manning to lead the club," said Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of the MLSE board of directors in a club release.

After his time at RSL, Manning lands in one of the league's largest markets, following the likes of former coach Jason Kreis (New York City FC) and general manager Garth Lagerwey (Seattle Sounders). After Manning's eight seasons at the helm at RSL, however, Hansen saw a need for change. Amid a front office restructuring announced coinciding with Manning's departure — and the promotion of Craig Waibel to general manager — Hansen said RSL under Manning was "a very tight pyramid."

"He's been here the whole time I've been here, I worked closely with him on each decision and we both came to the conclusion that as the organization needed to become more horizontal — with more authority diffused through the organization — that may not be the organization that he would want to lead," Hansen said on ESPN700 in August. "I understand that."

Manning said the "different visions" allowed him to pursue other opportunities after his time at RSL and for Hansen to become more involved in the organization.

That opportunity will be in Toronto, where Manning now leads a club featuring the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.

"I am greatly honored for the opportunity to lead this club," Manning said in a release. "TFC has made important strides this season, as the club pushes for its first-ever playoff berth in a premier, newly-renovated stadium, in front of some of the very best supported in the league."

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani