Dan Ashworth joins as Chief Football Officer

Dan Ashworth has been appointed as the FA’s first chief football officer to lead the high-performance strategy, with strategic oversight across England men’s and women’s teams. 

Previously the FA’s director of elite development and then technical director between 2013 and 2019, Ashworth has held key positions at three Premier League clubs. Now, he returns to a newly created role with the FA. 

Ashworth will work closely with men’s technical director John McDermott and Kay Cossington’s successor in the women’s technical directorate, while working into FA CEO Mark Bullingham.

He will also oversee the regeneration of a new-look St. George’s Park, which will undergo a significant upgrade to its world-class performance facilities and pitches as England prepares to co-host UEFA EURO 2028.

"Dan is a hugely influential and respected figure in the game, who has a long-standing commitment to England football," said Bullingham. "We are very happy to welcome him back in this new role.”

Ashworth will focus primarily on optimising the potential of the national football centre and building the long-term systems that underpin the FA’s performance ambitions, from winning England teams to developing more homegrown coaches.