David Courell says he’s joining the FAI at a time of great transformation and opportunity for Irish football.

The Castlebar native has left a position with the English FA to replace outgoing FAI Chief Operating Officer Rea Walshe.

For the English FA, Courell is currently serving as Head of the 2030 Fifa World Cup Bid Feasibility, which he also leads on behalf of the FAI and the FAs of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

After graduating from UCD, David progressed his career in the UK starting out as a Management Consultant with Deloitte in London. David transitioned into the world of sport playing a key role at the heart of the London 2012 Games as Operations Manager for the Olympic Stadium. From there he took on the role of Director of Operations for the British Paralympic Association, helping to lead the team to record setting performances at both the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Games. He then moved to the English FA in 2017.