Football Victoria (FV) has officially appointed Dan Birrell as its Chief Executive Officer following a competitive national recruitment process.
Birrell has served as Interim CEO since March 2025, during which time he delivered significant improvements across both the organisation and the wider football community.
His leadership over the past six months has been credited with reshaping internal culture, strengthening stakeholder relationships and aligning day-to-day operations with FV’s long-term strategic plan.
Before stepping into the interim role, Birrell was a senior member of FV’s executive team with responsibility for Football Operations. His previous positions within the organisation have included oversight of commercial programs, refereeing, coaching, high-performance initiatives and player pathways, giving him an extensive understanding of Victorian football.
The FV Board confirmed that the decision followed a rigorous process managed by an independent agency and drew a strong field of qualified candidates.
Birrell’s appointment provides continuity and stability as FV continues to deliver on its strategic goals and support the game’s rapid growth across the state.
Dan Birrell expressed his excitement and pride in his own appointment after hard work behind the scenes in recent months.
“It is an immense privilege to lead Football Victoria,” he said in a press release.
“I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together over the past six months, and I look forward to continuing to work with staff, clubs, government and partners to build an even stronger, more united football community.
“Football is the most inclusive and accessible sport in Victoria, and I am committed to ensuring that it continues to thrive for generations to come.”
Birrell joined Soccerscene for an episode on the Off the Pitch Podcast whilst he was interim CEO, where he discussed topics like the cost barrier for juniors, marketing the NPL better in this state, and ensuring more stability in the organisation.
It will be interesting to see how he implements the many different plans he has discussed and with his experience in football operations, he can drive a bigger change on the pitch than we have seen before with previous CEO’s
Click below to listen to Birrell speak about his plans for Football Victoria on Episode 11 of the Off the pitch Podcast, which is available on all major podcasting platforms.
