ExclusiveECA: "We are a representative body & are becoming a service company for the clubs" (Jeremy Cottino)

"We are moving from a representative body of the clubs, which we still are and will continue to be, to also becoming a service company for the clubs. We have the know-how, just that now we are going to have to change scale," said Jeremy Cottino (FRA), membership project leader within the European Club Association, to News Tank Football, on 06/02/2024.

The Frenchman was in Paris for the launch of the new "Platform for Executive Consultation" (PEC) format set up by the ECA, consisting of seven meetings organised between 05/02 and 12/03/2024 in five European countries (see programme below) to meet as many of its member clubs as possible ('ordinary members', 'associate members' and 'network members') and to encourage exchanges between them. The body chaired by Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (QAT) adopted a reform of its governance in March 2023 with the aim of increasing its membership, which is approaching 500 clubs (486 as of 12/01/2024, up 83% on 01/07/2023).

"We're also trying to be more innovative, for example by working on AI and how it can benefit clubs. When you're a bigger club, you have a…