FIFPRO: French-Swiss Stephane Burchkalter (ex-UNFP) appointed secretary general

Stéphane Burchkalter has been appointed secretary general of FIFPRO during a meeting of the global professional footballers’ union’s global board in Buenos Aires (Argentina) from 7 to 9 September, the organisation announced on 14 September 2026.

The French-Swiss national thus leaves his position as director of the legal department at UNFP, which he had held since 2008, and succeeds Alex Phillips, whose departure was announced in August 2026.

"He had joined FIFPRO as deputy secretary general in 2019, before serving as interim secretary general in 2024, alongside his role as secretary general of FIFPRO Africa, which he helped develop from 2008. It was at the head of UNFP’s legal department that Stephane Burchkalter built up the bulk of his expertise, serving French professional footballers for 27 years and establishing and developing this essential component of UNFP," the French professional footballers’ union said.

"His experience will be important as we continue to strengthen FIFPRO" (S. Marchi, FIFPRO)