Football league in Europe appoints Ingo Schiller as Co-CEO
New Leadership for the European League of Football: Ingo Schiller Appointed Co-CEO and CFO
Ingo Schiller, a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in the sports and finance sectors, has been appointed as the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the European League of Football (ELF) with immediate effect.
Schiller's extensive background includes heading the marketing, sales, and merchandising departments at Borussia Mönchengladbach from 1992 to 1998 and serving as managing director at Hertha BSC from 1998 to 2022. During his tenure at Hertha BSC, he oversaw key areas such as finance, organization, marketing, infrastructure, human resources, legal, IT, and new business.
In his new role at the ELF, Schiller will lead the strategic and financial development of the league, coordinating talks with the 16 franchises across nine countries to build a stable and sustainable future model. His leadership style emphasizes listening, structure, and decisive action, aiming to address challenges openly and collaboratively for long-term success.
Zeljko Karajica, co-founder and CEO of the ELF, will step down from management and operational duties at the end of the 2025 season. Karajica expressed appreciation for Schiller's partnership during the current season and beyond. Heinz Kierchhoff, on behalf of the ELF shareholders, expressed pleasure at having brought Schiller on board for the league's future development.
Patrick Esume, ELF Commissioner, expressed confidence in Schiller's ability to lead the European League of Football strategically, economically, and structurally. Schiller's appointment was unanimously approved by the ELF shareholders.
Since 2023, Schiller has run his own consultancy agency focusing on corporate management, structural development, and mediation. Schiller sees the European League of Football as still in its early stages of development and expresses motivation to help shape its future.
However, the European Football Alliance (EFA), a group of nine current and former ELF franchises, remains skeptical of ELF leadership changes and Schiller’s appointment, citing a lack of direct engagement with them and concerns over the influence of outgoing ELF co-founder Zeljko Karajica, who remains involved with the league through ownership of a franchise.
Despite these concerns, Schiller's appointment marks a significant milestone for the ELF as it moves towards a more stable and sustainable future. With his wealth of experience and commitment to the league, Schiller is poised to lead the ELF through its next phase of growth and development.
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Sporting enthusiasts are eager to see how Schiller's leadership will impact the European League of Football, particularly the Premier League, as he navigates the league's future amidst concerns raised from the European Football Alliance. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Schiller, while recognized for his impressive background in sports management and finance, will have to address the concerns of the European Football Alliance to gain their trust and ensure a stable and sustainable future for the Premier League and the entire European League of Football. [1] [2] [3] [4]
