Who is Lamar Hunt? Legendary American businessman who promoted U.S. sport & helped found MLS

GOAL looks at Lamar Hunt, a pivotal figure in U.S. sport who owned the Kansas City Chiefs and helped found MLS.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup takes place in the United States every season and there is a lucrative prize on offer to the team that comes out on top.

Not only does the winning team receive $300,000 in prize money, there is also a place in the following season's CONCACAF Champions League, which sees teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean collide.

But who is Lamar Hunt, the man the competition has been named after? GOAL brings you everything you need to know.

Lamar Hunt was an American businessman who is best known for his contributions to the promotion of sports in the United States, particularly soccer, American football and tennis.

Born in El Dorado, Arkansa on August 2, 1932, his wealth was accrued through the family oil business and, driven by his keen love of sports, he began to invest in a variety of teams and competitions from the 1950s on.

His first venture in sports began in American football, when he and a group of businessmen established the American Football League (AFL) in 1959. Hunt's team was the Kansas City Chiefs, which he founded and owned until his death in 2006.

Having witnessed the World Cup in England in 1966 and spending time in Ireland, Hunt began to cultivate soccer leagues and teams, helping to form the NASL before eventually becoming a founder of Major League Soccer.

He was the owner of a number of soccer franchises, including Dallas Tornado in the NASL, Columbus Crew, Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) and FC Dallas. Hunt died on December 13, 2006. He was 74 years old.

As well as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Lamar Hunt Trophy in American football's AFC