Zakaria Boufangacha appointed new Director Grassroots Football

The KNVB Supervisory Board has appointed Zakaria Boufangacha as the new Director Grassroots Football. - Foto: Liesbeth Dinnissen

The KNVB Supervisory Board has appointed Zakaria Boufangacha as the new Director Grassroots Football. He will succeed Jan Dirk van der Zee with effect from 15 December, as Van der Zee’s maximum 12-year term as Director comes to an end at the end of this year.

Boufangacha brings extensive executive and governance experience. He spent almost nineteen years at the FNV, the Dutch trade union federation, and served on its executive board for the past eight years, including as Vice President. In this role, he worked in a complex environment involving members, board members, government, employers and civil society organisations.

Experienced executive

He understands the dynamics of a large membership organisation and has extensive experience operating in a complex social, political and governance landscape

Janneke Brink-Daamen, on behalf of the Supervisory Board: "In Zakaria, we have found an experienced executive who is accustomed to navigating different interests, bringing people together and providing clear direction at the same time. He understands the dynamics of a large membership organisation and has extensive experience operating in a complex social, political and governance landscape. That experience, combined with his ability to connect people, is a very good fit for the KNVB and for the challenges facing grassroots football in the years ahead."

Football has been a constant throughout Boufangacha’s life. In his youth, he played for Utrecht-based football club Elinkwijk, among others. Today, he is active as a volunteer and youth coach at C.O.V. DESTO in Utrecht, the football club where his three children play. Over the past six years, he has coached the teams of his sons and daughter, and this season he is coaching the Boys Under-13 team.

During his years at the FNV, Boufangacha gained extensive experience in leading a large and complex membership organisation. He also has considerable experience in the political and governance landscape in The Hague and in working with civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

From 15 December, Boufangacha will lead the Management Team together with Marianne van Leeuwen, Director Professional Football, who was recently reappointed for a further three-year term. Together, they form the KNVB Executive Board.

‘Building on what is there and looking ahead’

Zakaria Boufangacha: "I am very much looking forward to joining the KNVB. Football brings together people from all kinds of backgrounds and plays an important role in society. I see that first-hand every week, both on and around the pitch."

"That is why I want to use my experience to work together with clubs, volunteers and colleagues to further strengthen the quality and social impact of grassroots football. My time at the FNV taught me just how special – and complex – a large membership organisation can be. You need to listen carefully to what matters to your members, bring different interests together and, at the same time, have the courage to look ahead."