Field narrows to replace David Gallop as FFA chief executive

Football Federation Australia’s hunt for a new leader has narrowed to a shortlist of three names.

Robert Cavallucci is on the shortlist to replace David Gallop as chief executive of FFA. Picture: Peter Wallis

Football Federation Australia’s hunt for a new leader has narrowed to a shortlist of three names, as the race to succeed David Gallop as chief executive reaches the home straight.

It is understood that the three who have been chosen for the final shortlist are global athletes union boss Brendan Schwab; Manchester City executive James Johnson; and former Liberal politician Robert Cavallucci, all of whom have been interviewed by FFA’s board in recent days.

Discussions among the board members are due to continue this week, with a further round of interviews possible before an appointment is confirmed by the end of the month.

All three have extensive football credentials, with Schwab’s involvement in the game extending back to helping establish the players’ association in 1993, and Johnson having worked at senior levels in both FIFA and the AFC before moving to the City Group.

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Cavallucci is the surprise candidate but on the shortlist after impressing at interviews with both headhunters and members of the board. Currently managing director of PwC’s real estate arm in Queensland, he was minister for Multicultural Affairs in Campbell Newman’s state government from 2012 to 2015.

But his involvement in football is extensive and he headed the Brisbane City bid for an A-League licence in the current round of expansion that ultimately withdrew for “strategic reasons” midway through the process.

He is a serving director of Football Queensland and also a member of both Brisbane Roar’s advisory council and Jade North’s Kicking with Cuz charity, as well as an active player and coach.

Schwab has spent almost all of his professional life involved in advocating for players’ rights as a lawyer and both chairman and chief executive of the PFA, and is a vocal proponent of human rights. After a period in charge of FIFPro, the umbrella organisation for players’ associations around the world, he now heads the World Players’ Association, representing some 85,000 athletes across myriad sports.

But it’s Johnson who has been described as the “cleanskin” candidate, having not been directly involved in the game here for eight years.

After two years as the AFC’s head of international development, he spent 5 ½ years as head of professional football at FIFA, dealing with the world’s most powerful clubs and leagues.

Gallop is due to leave FFA at the end of the year, completing a six-year term after succeeding Ben Buckley.

The role is changing dramatically with the switch of the A-League out of FFA’s control and into an independently run structure. The new CEO will focus on driving new revenue streams for the game, the national teams and continuing the remarkable growth of the game at grassroots levels.

The change in focus will also bring a reduced pay packet, with a salary of some $500,000 having been discussed with the various candidates.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH