Noel Mooney’s time as FAW chief executive might soon be over

Football Association of Wales chief officer Noel Mooney could soon leave his post to take up an identical role in his native Ireland.

The 47-year-old is believed to be a leading contender for the vacant FAI chief executive position.

The top job in Irish football administration has been up for grabs since Englishman Jonathan Hill, appointed in 2020, left his post in April.

Others in the frame to become FAI chief include Sarah Keane, CEO of Swim Ireland, who has just overseen the nation’s most successful Olympic Games.

Mooney was named new chief executive of the FAW in July 2021. He has been in the role for three years and has introduced a number of successful initiatives into Welsh football.

The Irishman left a post at Uefa to head the Welsh football body from 30 August 2021, replacing Jonathan Ford, who left the association following a vote of no confidence in March 2021.

Mooney had spent the previous 10 years with Uefa, latterly as head of national associations business development, having previously held roles in marketing after joining from the Football Association of Ireland.

In 2019, he was seconded to the FAI, taking interim control of the association during a period of financial crisis. His appointment was criticised by the Irish Minister for Sport given links to former FAI chief executive John Delaney.

Mooney returned to Uefa having distanced himself from wanting the FAI role permanently, but subsequently beat a number of candidates to secure the FAW vacancy.

A former League of Ireland goalkeeper, he helped Cork City lift the FAI Cup in 1998 and represented the club in Europe. He retired from playing in 2006 and the following year became commercial director at Limerick.

Mooney’s time as FAW CEO has delivered many accolades for Welsh football.

A month after his appointment, Mooney launched Our Wales, a new six-year strategy designed to make Cymru a leading football nation, targets including doubling the size of the women’s and girls’ game and ensuring grassroots infrastructure improved.

Last year, the FAW’s PAWB Fund awarded over £38,000 to support 330 individuals, 275 families and 133 clubs/organisations across all areas of Wales.

In May 2024, the FAW was honoured at the Institute of Directors (IoD) Wales Director of the Year Awards as CEO, Mooney was named Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Director of the Year.

February 2024 saw the national body announce £6 million would be invested into the Cymru Premier League – the biggest single sum pledged to the league since its formation in 1992.

This month, the FAW announced £3m of investment into North Wales facilities as it prepares to host the 2026 Uefa men’s Under-19 Championships.

Under Mooney’s leadership the fortunes of the Cymru men’s national team has been less inspiring.

Despite qualifying for a World Cup for the first time in 64 years, Wales’ performances at the 2022 finals in Qatar were disappointing, failing to get out of the group stage.

Wales also missed out on qualification for the 2024 Euros, losing in a play-off to Poland.

Craig Bellamy was recently appointed national teams manager, replacing Robert Page.