Back
13.07.2021Bayer 04

Fernando Carro moves up to the ECA board

Fernando Carro, CEO of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, has been appointed to the board of the influential European Club Association (ECA). The 56-year-old now represents the interests of the Bundesliga at the European Association level on the ECA board, together with Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and Bayern Munich Director of Legal Affairs, Dr. Michael Gerlinger – both of whom have been German representatives on this executive board for several years.
crop_Carro.jpg

The ECA represents around 230 professional clubs in Europe. The organisation is regularly represented by 24 board members, especially focused on topics relating to the continental football Association UEFA, which acts as the umbrella organisation for all national football associations and as a marketer of European club competitions. In addition to Carro, Dan Friedkin (President, AS Roma) and Oleg Petrov (CEO, AS Monaco) were newly appointed to the ECA Board of Directors.

It became necessary to fill positions on the board after several clubs and their officials represented on the ECA board sought and announced the establishment of a 'Super League' last April – bypassing the bodies of UEFA and ECA. The project failed. At the top of the ECA, Andrea Agnelli, club boss of Juventus, had to resign. With him went six other top officials of the Super League project. And nearly was replaced by Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Chairman and CEO of the top French club Paris Saint-Germain.

Carro: appointment is both an honour and Motivation 

"European football is facing major challenges, and not only because of the pandemic and its consequences. There will be a lot to accomplish in the next few years," said Fernando Carro, who has been the CEO at Bayer 04 since 2018. "I see this responsibility as both an honour and motivation. And I'm delighted that, as representatives of the Bundesliga, we will be given even greater voice, influence and opportunities for input when it comes to the future of football."

 

Related News

Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion
Women - 17.07.2026

Price freeze: Get your Women’s season ticket for the 2026/27 season now

Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.

Show more
Afonso Moreira
Bayer 04 - 17.07.2026

Moreira: Bayer 04 ‘a good place to grow as a player and as a person’

A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.

Show more
Manfred Manglitz
Bayer 04 - 16.07.2026

Bayer 04 mourn the loss of Manfred Manglitz

Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.

Show more
Niederländisches Duo Brandau und Loonen: „Konkurrenzkampf tut uns sehr gut“
Werkself-TV - 16.07.2026

Dutch duo Brandau and Loonen: ‘Competition is really good for us’

Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.

Show more