CHARLOTTE, NC, October 05, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Zoran Krneta has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Since December 2019, he has served as the founding General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer for Charlotte FC. In this transformative role, he has built a comprehensive Major League Soccer organization from inception—assembling the inaugural 2022 roster, scaling the Sporting Department to over 70 staff, and establishing Crown Legacy FC and a full-pathway Academy to create a complete player development ecosystem.

Mr. Krneta's tenure has been defined by strategic player acquisition and development. Notable signings include Riley McGree, acquired for $550,000 pre-inaugural season and subsequently sold for $5 million; Liel Abada, purchased from Celtic FC for $7.5 million with 51 goal contributions in 112 appearances including UEFA Champions League competition; and Kristijan Kahlina, who became the club's first individual year-end award recipient as 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He has also secured Premier League pedigree through signings of Tim Ream, Ashley Westwood, Wilfred Zaha and other international talent at pivotal stages of the club's growth, and most recently acquired Allan Saint-Maximim, a high-profile addition strengthening the club's competitive standing. Equally impressive is his success developing homegrown talent: College Draft Patrick Agyemang transferred to Derby County in a club-record deal as a USMNT international and 2025 MLS All-Star, while Adilson Malanda transferred to Middlesbrough for $8 million, combining for over $16 million in outgoing transfers within a single window.

As the senior executive across all areas of the organization, Mr. Krneta has held responsibilities akin to those of a chief executive, leading approximately 100 employees and overseeing over 200 players. Among his proudest achievements is guiding Charlotte FC from its inception during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming it into a consistently competitive club that remains in playoff contention. He considers building this Major League Soccer club from the ground up to be his most notable accomplishment, alongside his family—his wife Rosie and his two daughters, Katarina and Ljiljana.

Prior to moving to Charlotte, Mr. Krneta was the Director of London based global sports agency, Star Sports & Entertainment Ltd from 2005 to 2019. As owner and co-founder he oversaw a scouting department, managed a team of intermediaries, and represented elite athletes across Europe, Asia, and America. Over 14 years, he was instrumental in brokering and finalizing over 150 soccer deals valued in excess of $100 million across major global leagues, including MLS and Japan's J-League. His industry expertise earned him a testimonial from Sam Stapleton, ex-Managing Director of Roc Nation Sports International, who noted: "I have worked closely with Zoran for over 15 years. He has a wealth of experience in negotiation, extensive knowledge of key markets and has seen through multi-million pound transfer dealings from start to end. His industry experience is only matched by his hard-working attitude, trustworthiness and personal skills." In addition, Mr. Krneta co-founded Football Further in Manchester, United Kingdom, from 2018 to 2019, launching a leading online educational platform for aspiring football intermediaries.

Mr. Krneta also co-founded and directed Star Financial Systems from 2010 to 2019, serving as a Board member instrumental in creating the company's mission, vision, and values. The web-based financial multi-asset retail trading platform was sold to one of the world's largest financial brokerage houses, AxiCorp, in 2019. Earlier in his financial services career, he served as Head of International Business Development at ETX Capital from 2007 to 2009, managing international expansion into Australia, Europe, and Asia, and as Head of Business Development at WorldSpreads Group Plc from 2003 to 2007, where he was a founding partner responsible for creating the first customer-oriented, service-focused CFD offerings and spread betting business in the United Kingdom, achieving global expansion within 18 months.

Mr. Krneta's educational background has been instrumental in shaping his professional journey. He earned a Master of Business Administration with a focus on leading sports organizations from VSI Executive Education in 2020. He also holds a Master of Science in international business from Birkbeck, University of London, earned in 1999, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in computer and information technology administration and management, earned in 1998, also from Birkbeck. In addition, he received professional registration from the Association of Sporting Directors in 2025 and became a Football Association-registered intermediary in 2024. Earlier academic pursuits included studying Economics at a university in Serbia before transitioning to London's dynamic financial markets, an experience that broadened his perspective on international business operations.

Born in Belgrade, Mr. Krneta's early life was shaped by athletics and discipline. He played basketball professionally in Serbia until age 20, including for the under-16 national team. From 2000 to 2004, he channeled this competitive spirit into building Ealing Tornadoes Basketball Club in West London, which he co-founded and served as CEO. In an exceptional turnaround, he grew the organization to become one of England's leading youth basketball teams, achieving three consecutive promotions in four seasons. The club won two consecutive U18 National Championships in 2000 and 2001, the U20 National Cup in 2001, and the U20 National Championship in 2002. The club subsequently received an invitation to join the British Basketball League, eventually merging to form London United Basketball Club. This trajectory—building a grassroots organization into a top-tier competitor—foreshadowed his later success with Charlotte FC. He also played soccer during his high school years but did not pursue it professionally, a contrast that stands as an interesting footnote given his later leadership within a major soccer organization.

Throughout his career, Mr. Krneta has attributed much of his success to surrounding himself with talented, ambitious people, a philosophy that has shaped both his professional and personal relationships. He believes that success starts with believing in what you want to achieve. His path has been an unlikely one: unlike roughly 90% of soccer executives, he never played the game professionally. Instead, he transitioned from studying business and computer science in London into the fast-paced financial markets, built a globally respected sports agency in England's competitive market, and then crossed the Atlantic to build a Major League Soccer club from scratch.

Beyond his executive responsibilities, Mr. Krneta has demonstrated civic engagement through volunteer work with Roof Above, the largest homeless services not for profit in North Carolina, since 2021. He is additionally affiliated with the Sporting Director Association for England. Today, he resides in Charlotte with his wife, Rosie, while his daughters Katarina and Ljiljana live in Edinburgh, Scotland and London, England respectively. He travels regularly to the Europe for both professional obligations and family visits; likewise, his daughters visit Charlotte annually. Since arriving during the pandemic period, the family has established strong friendships within Charlotte's welcoming community and developed a deep appreciation for its family-oriented culture.

Outside work, Mr. Krneta enjoys collecting and watching classic black and white films, reformer pilates, outdoor activities, and reading extensively about history. Looking ahead, he intends to leave a lasting legacy within Major League Soccer for Charlotte and North Carolina by building a successful club that achieves championship victories for the city's passionate sports fans. He hopes to be remembered as an effective general manager who established a thriving organization.

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