Football trailblazer Ebru Köksal appointed to Board of Australian Professional Leagues

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Ebru Koksal

Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Football Australia (FA) have announced the appointment of global football identity, Ebru Köksal, CFA, to the APL’s Board of Directors as FA’s nominated board appointment.

Köksal is an experienced football and finance executive, an advocate for women’s football and gender equality, who is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director on the board of the UK’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), and also holds positions on the boards of Women in Football UK (Chair) and Doublepass BV (Non-Executive). She is a senior advisor at the investment management firm J. Stern & Co, where she advises on the football finance transactions and manages relations with wealth management clients.

Ebru previously served as a member of the Equality & Diversity Advisory Board of the Scottish Football Association, CEO & Board Member of Galatasaray AŞ, and consultant for UEFA and FIFA. While working with FIFA, she led their Women’s Football Administration Course in 2015 as well as the Female Leaders in Football Workshop in 2016 on behalf of Football Australia.

She was the first woman to be elected to the Executive Board of the European Club Association in 2011. Prior to working in the football industry, Ebru had a decade-long investment banking career with Morgan Stanley, Citibank and AIG Capital partners.

Commenting on the appointment, APL Chair, Paul Lederer said in a statement:

“Ebru Köksal is a trailblazer in the football world and is one of the most experienced experts in the industry today. It is an honour to welcome her to the APL Board, and we are excited to leverage her global experience in finance and football to propel the professional game forward in Australia.”

Ebru Köksal said via press release:

“I am delighted to join APL at such an exciting time for the professional game in Australia. I very much look forward to contributing to the significant innovation and evolution that APL is overseeing. The timing could not be better with the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup just a year away. There is an extraordinary opportunity for the entire women’s football pyramid to deliver a legacy for the whole game, and women and girls in particular.”

Chris Nikou, Chair of Football Australia, was excited to welcome Ebru as the Football Australia nominated Board member:

“Ebru Koksal is an outstanding, globally recognised and experienced football executive who brings a wealth of knowledge across many facets of the professional game. We are delighted to have secured Ebru to join the APL Board as the Football Australia nominated non-executive director and we look forward to continuing the strong collaboration with the APL to continue to grow the professional game in Australia.”

Ebru Köksal, who is a graduate of Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School and holds a BA in Economics and International Relations from Brown University, will commence her role with immediate effect following the unanimous support for her appointment by the APL Board.

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Australian Championship set to revolutionise domestic football

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Image credit: Football Australia

Football Australia has unveiled the “Australian Championship,” a groundbreaking new competition that promises to reshape the nation’s football landscape.

Officially launching in October 2025, the Championship will serve as a vital bridge between state-based competitions and the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s system, bringing clubs, players, and communities closer together.

This announcement comes on the heels of the October confirmation of the National Second Tier (NST) format, marking a significant milestone in Australian football.

The Australian Championship will provide a national platform for clubs and players to showcase their talent while fostering stronger connections with fans and communities across the country.

Competition Format and Vision

The Australian Championship will feature 16 teams competing in a dynamic format designed to balance competitive integrity and fan engagement. The competition will include:

Group Stage: Four groups of four teams playing home-and-away fixtures.

Elimination Finals: The top two teams from each group advancing to knockout rounds.

Grand Final: The inaugural champion to be crowned in December 2025.

This structure highlights Football Australia’s ambition to create an inclusive, exciting, and commercially sustainable competition that celebrates the depth of Australian football talent.

Football Australia Chief Executive Officer James Johnson spoke on the importance of this announcement for the future of Australian football.

“The Australian Championship is much more than a competition – it’s a national celebration of football; uniting proud historic clubs, emerging talent, and inter-generational community connection. It reflects the core values of Australian football: authenticity, opportunity, and ambition,” Johnson said in the press release.

“This competition will complement the A-League, NPL, and Hahn Australia Cup, providing a connected, meaningful pathway for players and fans alike. Today’s brand launch is a statement of our commitment to grow domestic football in Australia and unlock its full potential.”

Founding Clubs and National Representation

The competition will include eight Foundation Clubs with storied histories, such as APIA Leichhardt FC (NSW), Avondale FC (VIC), Marconi Stallions FC (NSW), Preston Lions FC (VIC), South Melbourne FC (VIC), Sydney Olympic FC (NSW), Sydney United 58 FC (NSW), and Wollongong Wolves FC (NSW), representing some of the strongest footballing traditions in the country.

Joining them will be eight Member Federation clubs drawn from the National Premier Leagues (NPL) across all states and territories.

This model ensures representation from every corner of the national football community, giving grassroots and state-level clubs an opportunity to compete on a larger stage.

Core Pillars of the Australian Championship

The Australian Championship aims to unite Australian football under the following key values:

Authenticity: Honouring historic clubs, iconic venues, and long-standing rivalries.

Discovery: Showcasing emerging talent and rising stars from across the nation.

Connection: Strengthening ties between grassroots, state competitions, and professional pathways.

Pride and Belonging: Celebrating football’s ability to bring players, fans, and communities together.

A New Era for Australian Football

With its launch, the Australian Championship is set to redefine the country’s domestic football ecosystem, creating new opportunities for players, clubs, and fans. Football Australia’s initiative reflects a commitment to building a thriving national competition while staying true to the rich heritage and passion that underpin Australian football.

As October 2025 approaches, anticipation will only grow for what promises to be a transformative moment in the nation’s sporting history.

UEFA and Unilever renew partnership

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Image credit: Europa League website

UEFA has embraced Unilever as an Official Global Partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, kicking off in Switzerland on July 2 until July 27, 2025.

Unilever’s deal with UEFA builds off of their 2024 partnership and will see a wide array of Unilever’s Foods and Personal Care brands ignite their own integrated advertising campaigns to connect with fans and consumers in and out of the stadium, including household names like Dove, Rexona, Knorr and Hellmann’s.

UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA’s excitement to work with Unilever again.

“Building on the success of our collaboration last summer, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Unilever for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said in a press release.

The support and interest in women’s football is on a sharp upward trajectory, and with Unilever’s portfolio of Food and Personal Care brands reaching billions of people every day, we look forward to celebrating the power of the game and bringing excitement to fans everywhere.”

General Manager of Unilever Foods Europe, Robbert de Vreede conveyed his enthusiasm for Unilever’s involvement in the upcoming Women’s EURO 2025.

“We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, enabling our Foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods,” he said in a UEFA press release.

“Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games.”

General Manager of Unilever Personal Care Europe, Fulvio Guarneri detailed why the collaboration between UEFA and Unilever was a perfect fit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said via press release.

“It’s a great time for women’s football and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports. Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”

Unilever joins an exciting list of brands for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 tournament, including household names such as adidas, Amazon, AXA, Booking.com, EA, Euronics, Grifols, Heineken, Hublot, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Lay’s, Lidl, PlayStation and Visa.

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