Managing Director, UEFA EURO 2028 UK & Ireland

Tournament Information

On 10th October 2023, the UK & Ireland were awarded the rights to host UEFA EURO 2028 – the world's third largest sporting event.

Hosted in summer 2028, this is also the largest sporting activity jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland and will see Europe's top 24 national teams compete in a 31-day, 51 match tournament, attended by over 3 million spectators and with a global tv audience of upwards of 2 billion people.

And as one of the world's largest and highest-profile sporting events, UEFA EURO 2028 will attract the attention of the sporting and major event communities, the media, and the public at large across the UK&I, Europe and the World. With its unique hosting model, the event promises to spread the impacts and benefits of the tournament across the nations and communities of the UK and Ireland.

UK & Ireland 2028 Limited (the Company)

The tournament will be planned and delivered by a variety of partners including:

• UEFA (event owner and key event delivery partner all commercial elements and overall responsibility for operational delivery)
• The Football Association, Football Association of Ireland, Football Association of Wales, Irish Football Association and Scottish Football Association (Football Association Partners)
• Host Cities & Host Stadia across the UK&I

The Government Partners of the UK&I (Government of Ireland, Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government, UK Government and Welsh Government (the Government Partners) will also provide extensive investment and support.

To deliver their responsibilities, the football association partners are establishing a new company – ‘UK & Ireland 2028 Limited' (the Company).

The Company will be jointly owned by the football association Partners, with a Board of Directors overseeing the activity of an executive workforce.

Managing Director – Role Purpose

The role of Managing Director for UK & Ireland 2028 Ltd will lead on all aspects of the day-to-day planning and local delivery of this unique event taking place across the 5 Nations in the Summer of 2028.

The Managing Director will be responsible for delivering the Board's commitments, building, leading, and developing all aspects of the new company from its inception, requiring an exceptional leader with both strategic and operational delivery experience.

Responsible for setting a clear strategic plan and leading a team to operationally deliver the tournament alongside UEFA, this role will work closely with UEFA, Government Partners, Stadiums, Cities, and wider delivery stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of the event.

Please note UEFA retain all Commercial responsibilities including Broadcast, Sponsors, Partners and Ticketing.

Key Accountabilities

• Support the Chair, Board, UEFA, Government & Football Partners to design, develop and execute a clear strategic plan for UK&I EURO 2028, that will not only deliver the UEFA, Government & Football Association tournament commitments, but an awe-inspiring tournament, that maximises and exceeds its potential, whatever the results of the national teams.
• Develop and nurture strong relationships with senior UEFA management through an open and collaborative
• Operational delivery of core hosting obligations including stadia and city management, safety and security, mobility and team services, whilst aligning to event owner led delivery (technical services, ticketing, sponsors, broadcast etc.)
• Maintain the senior stakeholder relationships with all key delivery partners including national and local government departments, stadiums, host cities, police, football stakeholders, suppliers and wider delivery
• Build and lead a high-performing organising committee, guiding, coaching, and mentoring individuals to achieve collective success.
• At all times ensure the best interests of the tournament in relation to the big decisions, be they financial, non-financial, short term and long term.
• Champion stakeholders to deliver against the legacy and sustainability commitments made in the Bid, maximising the opportunity of hosting the event for Football and Government alike.

Essential Skills & Experience Required

• Proven experience as a Tournament Director, of successfully planning and delivering large scale major football events, on budget and on time, with the wisdom and knowledge of ‘what to do' in high stake events and games.
• Exceptional leadership experience with a track record of successfully building and motivating large teams from inception, ramping up in scale, through to delivery and the legacy phase.
• Someone who the Tournament owners UEFA, will respect and support as a first-class candidate to deliver the event on the ground.
• Experience of working in a purpose led organisation with the ability to quickly understand the dynamics and culture of football and its ecosystem.
• Significant experience of managing multiple and complex stakeholders (including governments, multiple venues & cities and football stakeholders) with competing interests.
• Able to get to the heart of complex problems quickly, formulating and articulating potential solutions, and comfortable with ambiguity until this can be achieved.
• Successfully demonstrated management of multi-million-pound budgets and experience with Government funding.
• Someone who is comfortable in their own skin, with very high standards of personal integrity, mental resilience and emotional intelligence.
• An individual who has the best interests of everyone involved at their core, foregoing their own needs for the greater good. An individual who is motivated by the power of sport as a force for good and understands the passions and motivations of all the different stakeholders involved.
• An engaging and impactful communicator who has proven experience of managing external communications adeptly, including international media appearances.