Taylor takes top UEFA role

Tuesday, 27 March 2007
David Taylor, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association (SFA), will take up the role of UEFA General Secretary - head of the UEFA administration - on 1 June. The UEFA Executive Committee was officially informed of the appointment at its meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on Monday.
Since 1999Mr Taylor has held the post of SFA chief executive since August 1999. Born in Forfar in 1954, he was educated at Dundee High School before graduating from Edinburgh University with a degree in law. He qualified as a solicitor and practised until 1985, during which time he added to his legal qualifications with an MSc in Economics and an MBA.
Senior positionsHe then joined the Scottish Development Agency (now Scottish Enterprise) in 1985 and occupied a succession of senior positions before being named the first director of Scottish Trade International, a body set up to promote Scottish business overseas.
Fervent football interestThe 53-year-old has always had a fervent interest in football and is a long-standing member of the Scotland Supporters Club, having watched his country at five FIFA World Cups since the 1960s. He played football at junior and amateur levels, his best moment being a West of Scotland Amateur Cup win, and is also a qualified SFA coach.
European finalsOne of the highlights of Mr Taylor's tenure at the SFA was the UEFA Champions League final of 2002, when Zinédine Zidane inspired Real Madrid CF to their ninth trophy success against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Hampden Park, Glasgow - an occasion that led to the national stadium being selected as host venue for this year's UEFA Cup final.
Respected memberMr Taylor has been a respected member of UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body since 2002. "David Taylor is an accomplished and respected leader, and UEFA has recognised this in asking him to head up their organisation," SFA president John McBeth said. The post of General Secretary will replace that of Chief Executive within the UEFA administration. Gianni Infantino, currently UEFA Chief Executive ad interim, will become Deputy General Secretary under Mr Taylor.
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