ECA: "Ties with key EU institutions" reinforced at board & executive committee meetings in Brussels
"The European Club Association
Activity: an "independent body directly representing football clubs at European level" (ECA website)
Founded: January 2008, replacing the G14 and the Forum of European Clubs
Headquarters: Nyon…
(ECA
European Club Association
) has concluded its first executive committee and board meetings of the year. These meetings and related activities provided ECA
Activity: an "independent body directly representing football clubs at European level" (ECA website)
Founded: January 2008, replacing the G14 and the Forum of European Clubs
Headquarters: Nyon…
and its board with a positive opportunity to reinforce its commitment to strengthening ties with key European Union (EU) institutions and advocating for the European sport model," said the body, which met in Brussels (BEL) on 18 and 19/03/2025.
"Over the last two days, ECA has engaged with several key EU stakeholders. ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi
Chairman @ European Club Association (ECA) • Member of the executive committee @ UEFA • President @ beIN MEDIA GROUP • President and CEO @ Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) • Chairman @ Qatar Sports…
and ECA board members hosted commissioner Glenn Micallef, the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport prior to the board meeting, which took place on Wednesday morning. The discussions with Mr Micallef and other EU officials focused on fostering greater collaboration between European football clubs and European institutions, ensuring that the views and priorities of clubs are consistently represented."
"ECA CEO Charlie Marshall
Chief Executive Officer @ European Club Association (ECA) • Founding Partner and Investor @ A Million Ads
Education:
1999: BA Hons in Classics from Oxford University
addressed the European Parliament Culture Committee on Tuesday (18/03), reinforcing ECA's position on the future of the European Sports Model and the EU's role in shaping policy to strengthen club football throughout its pyramid. ECA has consistently advocated to protect the model’s core principles of solidarity and open competition and to collaborate ever more closely with European governmental institutions," said the European Club Association.
- As part of the dialogue with stakeholders on its report on the role of EU policies in defining the European sport model, the European Parliament's Committee on Education and Culture held a hearing on 18/03/2025 in Brussels (BEL) with representatives from FIFA
![]()
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
, UEFA
![]()
Union of European Football Associations
, European Leagues
![]()
New name - since 06/04/2018 - previously EPFL, the European Association of Professional Football Leagues.
, FIFPRO
![]()
International Union of Professional Footballers
, ECA, LALIGA
![]()
Spanish Professional Football League, new name with the six letters in capitals since 2023-24
and Football Supporters Europe.
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Union of European Football Associations
New name - since 06/04/2018 - previously EPFL, the European Association of Professional Football Leagues.
International Union of Professional Footballers
Spanish Professional Football League, new name with the six letters in capitals since 2023-24
ECA: 745 members on 19/03/2025, +56% since the start of 2024
"ECA's membership has reached 745 clubs - a 56% increase since the start of 2024. It advocates for the interests and priorities of all its members and provides services to support the professional growth of its clubs.
ECA has held 50 events over the past 12 months, providing best practice insights and knowledge-sharing opportunities, that benefit member clubs from all European territories."
ECA, 19/03/2025
"ECA has continued to advocate for revenue distribution agreements that reflect the importance of European clubs' participation in the Club World Cup" (ECA)
- The success of the new formats for European men's club competitions, specifically the recently concluded League Phases and Knockout Rounds of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
- ECA's collaboration with FIFA on the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup this summer. On behalf of its member clubs, ECA has continued to advocate for revenue distribution agreements that reflect the importance of European clubs' participation and a firm commitment to solidarity for non-participating clubs.
- ECA's workstream charters, outlining the key strategic initiatives underway to drive the implementation of the recent ECA strategic review.
- The association's current financial position, with the first ECA budget approved for the 2025/26 season.
ECA has continued to strengthen the representation of all clubs within its elected and appointed leadership positions, and welcomed Trine Hesselund Hopp Møller (FC Nordsjælland, DEN, ED&I Representative Subdivision 3) and Ingrid Vanherle (Standard de Liège, Jupiler Pro League
Belgian first division. 16 teams. Organised by the Pro League.
, women's associated members representative) to their first ECA board meeting."
"The new ECA Fans Working Group named 20 club representatives to its first composition"
"Michael Verschueren (Independent) will increase his mandate at ECA to providing strategic leadership in the areas of membership, strategy and club development.
The new ECA Fans Working Group, led by ECA Executive committee member Miguel Ángel Gil Marín (Club Atlético de Madrid) named 20 club representatives to its first composition. This working group will ensure that clubs advocate for and develop best practice in improving supporter relationships and engagement with fans in shaping the future of European club football.
Additionally, the Board confirmed the appointment of a new board member for ECA's Foundation: Ebru Köksal. Ms Köksal is a prominent figure in international football administration, known for her leadership in sports governance and advocacy for gender equality. "
ECA, 19/03/2025
European Club Association (ECA)
Activity: an "independent body directly representing football clubs at European level" (ECA website)
Founded: January 2008, replacing the G14 and the Forum of European Clubs
Headquarters: Nyon, Switzerland
Members: 700+ clubs (07/2024) from 55 UEFA member associations
Chairman: Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (QAT / Paris Saint-Germain) since 21/04/2021
Chief Executive Officer: Charlie Marshall (ENG) elected on 09/04/2020
Executive Committee
• Nasser Al-Khelaïfi
• Jan-Christian Dreesen
• Peter Lawwell
• Dariusz Mioduski
• Aki Riihilahti
• Martina Pavlová
• Míguel Ángel Gil Marin
• Dan Friedkin
• Jean-Claude Blanc
• Dennis Te Kloese
• Ali Y. Koç
• Niclas Carlnén
• Ferran Soriano
Board:
• Nasser Al-Khelaïfi (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), chairman
• Miguel Ángel Gil Marín (Club Atlético de Madrid, LaLiga EA Sports), UEFA executive committee ECA representatives
• Martina Pavlova (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic), vice-chair
• Jan-Christian Dreesen (FC Bayern Munich, Bundesliga), vice-chair
• Dariusz Mioduski (Legia Varsovie, Poland), vice-chair
• Aki Riihilahti (HJK Helsinki, Finland), vice-chair
• Peter Lawwell (Celtic Glasgow, Scotland), vice-chair
• Alessandro Antonello (FC Inter Milan, Serie A TIM), board member
• Jokin Aperribay (Real Sociedad, LaLiga EA Sports), board member
• Jan-Christian Dreesen (FC Bayern Munich, Bundesliga), board member
• Dennis te Kloese (Feyenoord Rotterdam, Eredivisie), board member
• Pablo Longoria (Olympique de Marseille, Ligue 1 Uber Eats), board member
• Oliver Mintzlaff (RB Leipzig, Bundesliga), board member
• Ferran Soriano (Manchester City, Premier League), board member
• Tore Bjørseth Berdal (Rosenborg, Norway), board member
• Rui Manuel Cesar Costa (SL Benfica, Liga Portugal Betclic), board member
• Bart Verhaeghe (Club Brugge, Belgium), board member
• Ali Y. Koç (Fenerbahce, Süper Lig), board member
• Stephan Reiter (RB Salzbourg, Admiral Bundesliga), board member
• Niclas Carlnén (Malmo FF, Sweden), board member
• Daniel Rommedahl (FC Copenhague, Denmark), board member
• Pál Orosz (Ferencvaros, Hungary), board member
• Asif Asgarov (Qarabag, Azerbaïdjan), board member
• Aki Riihilahti (HJK Helsinki, Finland), board member
• Michele Kang (Olympique Lyonnais féminin, D1 Arkema), women's club board member
• Michael Verschueren, independent member
• Michele Centenaro, independent member
• Juan José Sartori (AS Monaco FC, Ligue 1 Uber Eats), Subdivision 1 representative
• Stacy Johns (Grasshopper Club Zurich, Switzerland), Subdivision 2 representative
• Raphael Landthaler (Viktoria Plzen, Czech Republic), Subdivision 3 representative
• Kuno Tehva (Nomme Kalju FC, Estonia), Subdivision 4 representative
• Jean-Claude Blanc (Manchester United FC, Premier League), UEFA Club Competitions SA ECA representative
• Dan Friedkin (AS Roma, Serie A TIM), UEFA Club Competitions SA ECA representatives
• Fernando Carro (Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Bundesliga), UEFA Club Competitions SA ECA representatives
• Dariusz Mioduski (Legia Varsovie, Poland), UEFA Club Competitions SA ECA representatives
Four women appointed by the board itself to advance the ECA's "efforts in the area of equity, diversity and inclusion":
• Valentina de Laurentiis (SSC Napoli, Serie A TIM)
• Aleksandra Milošević (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)
• Vlatka Peras (GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Croatie)
• Azra Numanović (FK Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Category: Professional Unions
Headquarters address
Route de St-Cergue 91260 Nyon Switzerland
Visit in the directory
# 1039, created on 06/02/14 at 18:33 - Updated on 20/03/25 at 13:47
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