Dr.SHAJI PRABHAKARAN
A THOUGHT LEADER AND A LEADING VOICE ON SPORTS
Author and a thought leader, with a proven track record in the global sports industry. Currently, he is the Executive Committee Member, Asian Football Confederation and South Asian Football Federation. He has spent more than 30 years in various capacities with domestic and international sports – from working in a National Federation to an International Governing Body of football, FIFA. He worked with world football’s governing body, FIFA as its regional head for South and Central Asia. He is one of the leading professional football administrators in India as he is a rare person in India having such diverse experiences and expertise in the sports industry.
He is the former Secretary General, and National Teams Director & Head of Developments with All India Football Federation. He is the architect of the Vision 2047 – the strategic roadmap on Indian football which the governing body AIFF unveiled on 7th January 2023.
He was the President, Football Delhi (Delhi Soccer Association) for approx. 5 years. Mr Shaji Prabhakaran resigned as the President position to take up the role as Secretary General of AIFF in September 2022. He made a huge impact on football in Delhi with multiple initiatives and made Delhi a professionally managed Association within a short span of time under his visionary leadership.
He was the Senior Consultant for Asian Football Confederation and consulted FIFA as a Football Expert. He was also involved with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a Strategic Consultant for Global Cricket Projects. He is also one of the Directors of a Delhi based professional club, Delhi United Football Club.
Shaji played a key role in establishing one of the best football academies in India in the year 2000 in Chandigarh and he was successful as a Coach in producing players who represented India in the National Youth Teams.
A leading expert in world football, he has already published a few scholarly works, apart from extensive writing on the game for different publications and appearing as a Football Analyst and Sports Expert on various television news channels. He is the Board of Management member in Delhi Sports University.
Shaji was part of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the FIFA U17 World Cup India 2017 and was involved in every aspect of the World Cup from the day one. When India organized FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup 2022 he was key figure in delivering a successful U17 Women’s World Cup in India. He was also part of FIFA U17 World Cup 2015 in Chile.
Mr.Shaji Prabhakaran has closely worked with different State Governments and Central Govt involving Government Sports Projects as an expert and consultant. Further, he is also involved with various sports education related projects in India and he is part of the global sports management network and sports education universities.
Mr.Shaji Prabhakaran has closely worked with different State Governments and Central Govt involving Government Sports Projects as an expert and consultant. Further, he is also involved with various Kerala-born Shaji was brought up in the Dooars area in West Bengal and his love story with football began in that sleepy, sylvan part of the country. It’s his unbridled passion, indubitable commitment, and indefatigable determination which have made the incredible journey for a boy from a remote region to the highest echelon of world football possible. ports education related projects in India and he is part of the global sports management network and sports education universities.