ECA meets in Nyon

Independent body
Comprising 103 clubs, the ECA is the independent body representing football clubs at European level. It was founded in January, when the association also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UEFA to herald a new era of harmony within the European football family. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, UEFA recognises the ECA as the sole body representing the interests of European clubs – and the ECA recognises UEFA as the governing body of football at European level, and FIFA as the governing body of football at worldwide level.

Executive board
On Monday, the ECA elected eleven members for its executive board. They are: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (FC Bayern München), Ernesto Paolillo (FC Internazionale Milano), Fernando Gómes (FC Porto), Rick Parry (Liverpool FC), Itamar Chizik (Maccabi Haifa FC), Damir Vrbanović (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Jean-Michel Aulas (Olympique Lyonnais), John McClelland (Rangers FC), Michel Verschueren (RSC Anderlecht), Ramón Calderón (Real Madrid CF) and Nils Skutle (Rosenborg BK).

Strategy Council
These newly-elected members will join the three board members already in office who represent the ECA on the Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC) – Peter Kenyon (Chelsea FC), Joan Laporta (FC Barcelona) and Umberto Gandini (AC Milan). One more member will be appointed to serve on the council. The PFSC comprises UEFA vice-presidents and representatives of the clubs, European professional leagues and European professional players' union (FIFPro Europe).

Chairman and vice-chairman
The 15-strong ECA board will elect from within its members the ECA chairman and vice-chairman and will appoint a general secretary. The new 15-member board will take up its duties immediately, replacing the ECA transitory board that has been in place since January.