SFV-ASF general secretary takes office

The new general secretary of the Swiss Football Association (SFV-ASF), Alex Miescher, took up his post in December, succeeding Peter Gillieron who has been elected SFV-ASF president.

The 41-year-old Miescher said he was both proud and excited about filling the shoes of Gillieron, the association's general secretary from 1993 who now replaces retired president Ralph Zloczower.

Underlining the particular importance of grassroots football, Miescher – a qualified economist who speaks German, French and English – said: "I want to use my enthusiasm and determination to nurture the grassroots. Grassroots and elite sport must recognise they need each other. I am very excited about getting to know the global football family and I am proud to be part of it."

The new man's experience of sport owes more to the swimming pool than the football pitch: Miescher was the Swiss Swimming Federation's director of swimming from 2006 to 2009. During his own career in the pool, he was national crawl sprint champion five times, national team captain between 1990 and 1993, a European championship finalist and a world championship participant.

Before joining the SFV-ASF, Miescher also worked as a military pilot and personal assistant to the commander of the Swiss air force. A general staff wing commander, he will continue his military service as commander of the Sion airbase.