The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed that Marc Canham has taken the decision to step away from his role as chief football officer.
Canham joined the FAI as director of football in June 2022, succeeding Ruud Dokter.
The centrepiece of his reign was the ‘Football Pathways Plan’ unveiled in early 2024, which sought to institute an aligned calendar at all levels of the game, with leagues around the country now directed to move to a calendar year season by 2028.
However, the Englishman’s tenure as director of football was marked by controversy, with the protracted search for a successor to Stephen Kenny attracting criticism, while Canham admitted his regrets over the handling of Colin Healy’s removal as assistant manager of the women’s national team.
A statement from the association confirmed Canham’s departure.
It read: “Marc has spent close to three years with the FAI and in that time has played a pivotal role in helping to shape the future of Irish football, including the development of our Football Pathways Plan, which provides a clear direction for the continued growth of the game at all levels from grassroots, to professional, to international.
“Marc will continue in his position as he conducts a handover. The recruitment process for a new CFO will commence immediately and details of an interim plan will be confirmed in the coming weeks – to cover the period between Marc’s departure and a new CFO being appointed.”
Canham said: “After much consideration, I have made the decision to leave the Association and relocate back to England.
“This decision has not been an easy one to come to, but I believe that the time is right to explore new personal and professional opportunities for me and my family. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time living in Ireland and working in Irish football and I am proud of the work that we have put in place to support its long-term development.
“I would like to thank the FAI Board, all of my colleagues at the FAI, and everyone involved in Irish football for their support during my time with the Association. I wish every person, every organisation and everyone associated with Irish football the very best for the future.”
FAI president, Paul Cooke said: “While we are sad to see Marc leave, we fully respect his decision, and I sincerely thank him for his dedication and hard work throughout his time with us. His leadership and hard work in driving forward the Football Pathways Plan has set a strong foundation for the future of Irish football which we all now need to deliver upon. We wish him the very best in his next chapter.”
FAI CEO, David Courell said: “We are very grateful to Marc for his commitment and contribution to Irish football, and we wish him every success for the future. Marc and his team have shaped a clear vision for the game through the development of the Football Pathways Plan. This is the first time we have had a clear whole game approach which the Association is committed to delivering on and which we firmly believe will set Irish football up for future success.”
