The Vancouver Whitecaps are importing a superboss from one of England's best-known football franchises.

Tottenham Hotspur executive director Paul Barber, 42, will join the North American Soccer League club on March 1 as chief executive to prepare for the Vancouver's 2011 move to Major League Soccer.

Barber joined the Spurs' board in 2005 and is a friend of Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash, one-half the Caps' ownership group. At Tottenham, he is responsible for commercial areas, ticketing and hospitality, international tours and friendly matches, domestic and international coaching programs and development camps.

"Paul is the right leader to successfully head up our MLS efforts, Mallett said in a news release.

Barber joins president Bob Lenarduzzi and chief operating offer Rachel Lewis in the executive suite.

The 127-year-old Spurs were valued by Forbes.com as the world's 11th most valuable soccer team at US$445 million.

The two-time United Soccer Leagues' First Division champion Whitecaps and five other teams split from USL-1 in early November to form the new NASL. The second division begins play in 2010.