MONTREAL – Following a 40-year career in tennis, provincial politics and more recently in soccer, the Montreal Impact Executive Vice-President, Strategic Development and Communications, Richard Legendre, announced on Tuesday that he will put an end to his full-time professional endeavours. He will officially leave the club on December 21.
“It was a long thought and planned decision,” declared Richard Legendre. “I had discussed it with Joey Saputo for the first time in June of 2017. I am at a point in my life where I would like to give myself more time and space for all types of personal activities, and possibly a few professional collaborations.”
Richard Legendre joined the Montreal Impact in 2007 as the Executive Vice-President of the Montreal Impact and Stade Saputo. He initially contributed to the construction of Stade Saputo in 2008 and was responsible for the stadium’s expansion project in 2012 in preparation for MLS. He also piloted the Centre Nutrilait construction project, the players’ training centre, in 2014.
Richard Legendre held various positions with the Impact. He was the Executive Vice-President, Soccer Operations, and Executive Vice-President, Strategic Planning and Communications, while acting as the club’s spokesperson and Joey Saputo’s right-hand man.
“I’m extremely proud to have accompanied Joey Saputo in the club’s dazzling progression over 11 years, the most important growth a professional sports club in Quebec has experienced during this decade,” added Richard Legendre. “We still aren’t where we want to be, but a lot has been accomplished since the construction of Stade Saputo. I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, our president, all my colleagues, players, coaches, and the technical staff who allowed me to experience this extraordinary adventure. It’s been an honour and a privilege.”
“I would like to thank Richard for everything he’s accomplished in the last 11 years,” said Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo. “His expertise, dedication and determination are just some of his qualities that helped the club grow and become what it is today. I wish him an excellent, and fully deserved, retirement. Since I knew of Richard’s departure for quite some time, the transition process is already well underway, and the reconfiguration of our administrative staff is almost complete. I also know that Richard won’t be too far away to give a helping hand if needed.”
Native of Montmagny, Richard Legendre earned his bachelor’s in recreation from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in 1975, following three years at Florida State University, from 1970 to 1973. From 1974 to 1979, he played on the ATP professional tennis tour, and was a member of the Canadian team at the Davis Cup in 1978. He then occupied several positions in the world of tennis, most notably that of Tennis Canada Vice-President in Montreal, from 1988 to 2001.
Richard Legendre was also involved in politics as a Parti Québécois Member of Parliament for Blainville and as Minister for Tourism, Recreation and Sport, Minister responsible for Youth, and Minister responsible for Wildlife and Parks, from 2001 to 2003. Then, from 2003 to 2007, he sat in the official opposition as the MP for Blainville. He also took part in the Parti Québécois’ leadership race in 2005.
