General information Archives

28 May 2026

Daniel Sillman

Biography Daniel Sillman.

Daniel Sillman is the Executive Chairman of Relevent Sports Group, a leading sports media and events company dedicated to growing the global reach of football.

Under his leadership, Relevent has transformed into a major player in international football media rights, securing landmark deals with La Liga, UEFA, and other top leagues. Sillman is known for his innovative approach to expanding football’s presence in new markets, including organizing the first-ever El Clásico in the United States.

Beyond his business achievements, Sillman is committed to using sport as a force for good. His work aligns with the UEFA Foundation’s mission to promote positive social change through football, particularly by increasing access and visibility of the game across diverse communities. His strategic vision and passion for football make him a valuable contributor to the sport’s global development.

10 November 2025

Gabriella Csányi

Biography.

Gabriella Csányi is a Hungarian entrepreneur and investor known for her involvement in multiple start-ups and social initiatives.

She studied business management at Corvinus University of Budapest and later earned a master’s degree in management science from the London School of Economics.

Over the years, she has co-founded and led several ventures, including Like Locals, Datapolis, Pine Design and Simplexity Studio, showcasing her versatility across the tech, design and investment sectors.

Beyond business, Csányi is deeply committed to social impact through her work with the Csányi Foundation and currently serves on its board.

The foundation supports disadvantaged children in Hungary, and Csányi even aligned her academic research with its mission, exploring how to objectively measure talent.

Known for her drive for success, she continues to expand her influence, including through ventures in sport and international asset management.

10 November 202527 April 2026

Luís Figo

Biography.

Luís Figo, born in Almada, Portugal, on 4 November 1972, is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of his generation. His illustrious career spanned top clubs such as Sporting CP, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Known for his elegance, vision and technical brilliance, Figo won numerous titles, including the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in 2002, earned the Ballon d’Or in 2000 and was also named the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year, the first Portuguese player to receive this honour.

Figo represented Portugal 127 times, scoring 32 goals and leading the national team to the 2004 UEFA EURO final and the semi-finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Following his retirement, Figo transitioned into football governance. In 2017, he was appointed football advisor to UEFA, working closely with president Aleksander Čeferin. In this role, he contributes to discussions on technical aspects of the game, the laws of football and strategies to enhance the sport’s appeal.

He also serves as a leading figure in UEFA’s ambassador programme, using his experience to promote football development across Europe.

6 November 202510 November 2025

Ivan Rakitić

Biography.

Ivan Rakitić, born in Switzerland to Croatian parents on 10 March 1988, is one of the most accomplished midfielders of his generation.

His professional career spans multiple top European clubs, including FC Basel 1893, FC Schalke 04, Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona. Rakitić captained Sevilla to a UEFA Europa League title in 2014 and won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2015, scoring the opening goal in the final. Internationally, he earned over 100 caps for Croatia and played a key role in their historic run to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.

In 2020, Rakitić became the first official ambassador of the UEFA Foundation for Children, reflecting his deep commitment to social impact through football. As a father of two, he brings personal passion to his role, aiming to “put smiles on children’s faces” through foundation-led initiatives.

Rakitić concluded his playing career at Hajduk Split, where he now serves as technical director, continuing his contribution to the sport off the pitch. He also founded his own football academy in Croatia, nurturing future generations of players.

Rakitić remains closely connected to his roots in Möhlin, Switzerland, where he organises the Steinli Cup, a youth football tournament, celebrating his early beginnings and fostering young talent. Additionally, he serves as a La Liga ambassador, promoting Spanish football globally and sharing his experience and passion for the game.

6 December 20246 December 2024

Michele Uva

Michele Uva is a sports manager with skills in the areas of company restructuring, business development and sustainability coupled with a strategic focus on complex organisations, including transparency and accountability processes. He has dedicated his entire career to professional sport across several contexts, disciplines and environments, notably as CEO of sports organisations including the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) as well as professional football clubs (Parma FC and SS Lazio), basketball clubs (Virtus Roma) and volleyball clubs (Zinella Volley Bologna, Volley Treviso and PVF Matera). He has also provided his services as an expert consultant in sports management and company reorganisations around the world.

In 2017, he was elected to the UEFA Executive Committee.

During his tenure, he served as UEFA vice president and chair of the Club Licensing Committee and as a member of the Finance, Club Competitions, Strategic Steering and Women’s Football Committees and the Professional Football Strategy Council.

A graduate of the University of Bologna, Uva has authored six books on the sport and football industry, most recently Soldi vs Idee, published in 2023, and has been invited to speak at COP28, the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos and the UN Global Refugee Forum. He currently lectures on several master’s programmes at universities and institutions around the world and is UEFA’s Director of Social & Environmental Sustainability, having been appointed in January 2021. In this role, he produced the organisation’s Football Sustainability Strategy 2030: Strength through Unity.

18 January 202318 January 2023

Biography Andrea Radrizzani

Biography Andrea Radrizzani.

Born September 1, 1974 in Italy, Andrea Radrizzani is a leading entrepreneur who has been at the forefront of the global sports media industry for the past 20 years.

He began his career in sports media in 1999 with digital sports content distributor Media Partners, where he founded its China business. He went on to cofound MP & Silva in 2004, launching the renowned sports media agency’s operations from its headquarters in Singapore and leading its global expansion into 20 countries.

Andrea is the Founder and Chairman of Aser Ventures, a pioneering investment platform specialising in sports, media and technology. He has launched the broadcasting group Eleven Sports. He has also led investments in a number of sports, media and technology companies including Creed Media, Hellodi, Sports Data Labs, Epico and more.

Andrea is the Founder and Chairman of Play for Change – an international charity that uses the power of sport to improve the lives of children around the world.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from IULM University, Milan.

16 December 202226 June 2025

Charter of the UEFA Foundation for Children

14 December 202230 June 2026

Call for projects

Through the call for projects, we are working to promote the fundamental rights of vulnerable children all over the world.

We welcome applications from any organisation that shares the values of the UEFA Foundation for Children and proposes practical measures to help children in the following areas:

Access to sport

Personal development

Disabled children

Healthy lifestyle

Conflict victims

Gender equality

Environmental protection

Employability

Infrastructure and equipment

Strengthening partnerships

The foundation’s support is not limited to projects in Europe.

Our core aims are solidarity and development aid, rooted in respect for the ethical values that we share with our partners.

Successful projects must also meet certain criteria set out by the board of trustees.

Selection process

The UEFA Foundation for Children examines and evaluates every project submitted.
The board of trustees takes a final decision on the selection of projects at its autumn meeting in accordance with the Statutes.

Candidate registration platform

Call for projects 2026 is open.

7 December 202218 November 2025

Our supporters

UEFA serves as the founding entity and principal financial supporter of the UEFA Foundation for Children. In this role, UEFA not only initiated the creation of the foundation but also appointed the first members of its board of trustees, ensuring strong governance and alignment with its mission to promote solidarity and improve the lives of children worldwide through football.

The foundation surrounds itself with individual and institutional supporters, including friends, donors and commercial sponsors.

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION

A ‘friend of the foundation’ is an individual or institution who has demonstrated a particular attachment to the foundation’s cause, whether through their actions, connections or contributions. This status is conferred by the board of trustees.

Margarita Louis-Dreyfus was made a friend of the foundation on 3 November 2025.

DONORS

A donor is any individual or institution who helps the foundation to achieve its objectives by making a one-off donation or contribution or by leaving a bequest.

Ambassadors of the foundation

Ambassadors named by the board of trustees work to promote the foundation’s activities.

These ambassadors are well-known public figures who use their platform to raise awareness of the plight of children around the world and of the projects supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children.

Their role is to represent the foundation to the public, partners and Friends of the foundation, all the while conveying positive messages about our projects.

Eugénie Le Sommer was the foundation’s first female ambassador, appointed in May 2021 - Biography

${"tiktok_developers_3p_anchor_params":"{"source_type":"vicut","picture_template_id":"","capability_name":"retouch_edit_tool","client_key":"aw889s25wozf8s7e"}","source_type":"vicut","pictureId":"473A68D9-1AC3-4FC0-AB6A-98B7C391C4DB","editType":"image_edit","data":{},"exportType":"image_export"}$

Fiona May has been a member of the UEFA Foundation for Children’s board of trustees since 24 May 2017 and in 2025, she was appointed UEFA foundation ambassador - Biography

7 December 202216 December 2022

A word from the UEFA Foundation for children Chairman

Dear Friends,

Football is not only the number one sport in the world, but is also a great platform to create solidarity projects for those in need. UEFA has always been one of the leading football organisations in social responsibility and sustainability programmes, and the UEFA Foundation for Children has been doing great work since its launch in 2015.

Even though UEFA is the confederation of European football associations, I am pleased to see that the activities of the UEFA Foundation for Children exceed European borders and reach all around the world.

I would like to encourage all of you to join the activities of the UEFA Foundation for Children and become a supporter of this global initiative. With your support and the solidarity of the European football family, we can achieve even more.

Thank you for your support!

Aleksander Čeferin

22 January 201917 January 2023

Dr. Wladimir Klitschko

Dr. Wladimir Klitschko, born on 25 March 1976 in Kazakhstan, is a Ukrainian former professional boxer and an entrepreneur.

Wladimir Klitschko is not only the combined longest reigning heavyweight boxing champion of all time; he has always seen himself as an entrepreneur. In 2003, he and his brother Vitali started their own business and founded the boxing promotion company K2 Promotions. He also founded the Klitschko Management Group, a sports marketing agency and the Klitschko Foundation, which aims to help children to discover their potential and bring their dreams to life. The foundation has helped more than one million children so far. Together with the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, he set up the CAS Change and Innovation Management programme and the Competence Center for Intrapreneurship. In 2018, he laid the foundations for spreading his F.A.C.E. the Challenge method in the English-speaking part of the world with the start of cooperation with Harvard Business School.

In 2016, he founded KLITSCHKO Ventures, dedicated to building and maintaining a comprehensive, strategic partner network.

Wladimir Klitschko, who earned his PhD in 2001, sees himself as a pioneer transferring his knowledge and experience from over 25 years as a professional athlete to different areas of life.

Wladimir Klitshchko has been a member of the board of trustees of the UEFA Foundation for Children since 29 November 2018.

22 January 201917 January 2023

Snežana Samardžić-Marković

Ms Snežana Samardžić-Marković is the Director General of Democracy at the Council of Europe since 2002. Under her responsibility, the Directorate General works to help our member states in creating a favourable environment for sustainable democracy and democratic security in Europe.

Three directorates and eight partial agreements under her responsibility are providing guidance, assistance and innovation in the areas of democratic governance, participation and diversity. Her responsibilities include the policy areas of education and youth, local democracy, cultural policies, election assistance, the protection of human dignity, gender equality, children’s rights, and the rights of minorities, work against discrimination, democratic citizenship and democratic responses to crisis situations.

Previously, Ms Samardžić-Marković has held numerous positions in the Serbian Government including as Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Neighbouring Countries; Assistant Minister of Defence (2005-2007) and Co-President of the Serbia-NATO Defence Reform Group; member of the Foundation Board of WADA, Minister of Youth and Sports (2007-2012) and President of the Fund for Young Talents.

5 June 2018

Greg Clarke

Greg Clarke was born in Leicester (England) in 1957 and is married with four adult children.

Over the last 40 years, Greg has worked for and led a variety of blue chip asset-intensive corporations, including group chief executive roles at a FTSE 100 company and an ASX 50 corporation in Sydney. Since 1995 he has held non-executive director positions at various major international organisations, and since 2010 he has chaired various companies and organisations within the plc, sports and government sectors. His career has revolved around planning and delivering multi-billion pound projects with an emphasis on safety and punctual delivery.

From 2010 to 2016, Greg was chairman of the English Football League, before being appointed chairman of The Football Association in September 2016. Prior to that, he was also a director and chairman of Leicester City FC. He has been heavily involved in various initiatives seeking to use the power of football to deliver social change, including (i) acting as an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK, the English Football League’s official charity partner, (ii) leading the football community’s fundraising initiative to support survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster, in partnership with Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC (raising £1.5m), and (iii) personally supporting the work of charitable trusts associated with England’s professional clubs.

12 March 201515 November 2023

Dominique Blanc

Dominique Blanc, president of the Swiss Football Association (SFA), was born on 5 December 1949.

His studies culminated in the award of a federal diploma in sales, and he then spent eight years teaching at university and 17 years as a federal expert, before leaving academia for the world of commerce.

After working for various Swiss firms as CEO and export director for France and Spain, he struck out on his own in the construction materials sector.

Dominique Blanc has an extensive knowledge of Swiss football. Having played the game in his youth, he then climbed the ranks in the world of refereeing, reaching the First League.

In 1981, he became an inspector and a referee instructor at the SFA. After eight years at the head of the Vaud Cantonal Football Association (from 2007 to 2015), he became president of the SFA’s Amateur League.

12 March 201517 January 2023

Norman Darmanin Demajo

Portrait picture of Photo portrait de Norman Darmanin Demajo

Norman Darmanin Demajo, born in Naxxar (Malta), on 19 April 1952, is married with three children.

He studied accountancy and business management in his home country and at the London School of Accountancy.

He is the owner and managing director of NDD Ltd, management consultancy firm based in Swieqi (Malta) and of various other companies. In 2002 he added Luxol Sport Club Ltd to his portfolio – a sports management company and sports complex.

In 2002 Norman Darmanin Demajo also became a founder member and trustee of the Time2Think Organisation, a charitable foundation that brings together independent trainers, speakers and consultants who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and personal experience to promote creativity, awareness, innovation, competitiveness and productivity.

Active in football since 1968, Norman Darmanin Demajo won three league titles and three Maltese Cups during a nine-year spell at Valletta FC, from 1973 to 1982. An amateur international, he also represented his country in 1975/76. He hung up his boots in 1990 at the age of 38 after a spell with St Andrew's FC.

A council member of the Malta Football Association (MFA) from 1988, he was also president of the MFA from 2010 to 2019.

Since July 2019 he has been the 1st Vice-Chairman of the Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee.

Call for projects

Selection process

Candidate registration platform

Our supporters

FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION

DONORS

SPONSORS

Ambassadors of the foundation