David Dein
Encyclopedia
David Barry Dein is the former vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club
and former vice-chairman of the Football Association
. He was also the President of the G-14
group of Europe
an football clubs between October 2006 and May 2007 and has sat on various committees within FIFA
and UEFA
including UEFA's Club Competition Committee and Executive Committee. In August 2007 he sold his shares in Arsenal F.C. to London-based, Russian-owned business company Red and White Holdings. He was also the International President of England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.
) At the time of Dein's purchase of the shares in Arsenal back in 1983, Peter Hill Wood Arsenal's Chairman described Dein as "crazy" to invest his money in the club stating that "to all intents and purposes it's dead money". Dein built up his shares until he owned 42% of the club in 1991. During his time at the club, he was responsible for football matters taking an active role in the transfer of players and contract negotiations where he was able to use his extensive network of football contacts. Dein was behind the appointment of the then little known Arsène Wenger
to the manager's job in 1996; under Wenger Arsenal have won the FA Premier League
three times and the FA Cup
four times, and Dein strongly backed him and his transfer wishes throughout.
David Dein was also influential in the transformation of Highbury into an all-seater stadium. Following the Hillsborough disaster
a report by Lord Justice Taylor
called on all Premier League clubs to introduce all-seater stadiums. Dein was behind the introduction of a bond scheme to finance the redevlopment of Highbury's North Bank and Clock End terraces into all-seater stands.
Dein also helped obtain Arsenal's entry into the G-14
group of major European football clubs in 2002, and became President of the G-14 in October 2006. A keen promoter of women's football, he was also President of Arsenal Ladies Football Club
, the most successful English women's football team, while Arsenal vice-chairman.
David Dein’s legacy at Arsenal cannot be overstated. Alongside Arsene Wenger he has helped to transform the club both on and off the pitch. Today Arsenal is seen as an example of a leading club in world football and is admired around the world. David Dein has been instrumental in transforming Arsenal into what it is today.
David Dein was responsible for bringing Arsene Wenger to the club. Following the dismissal of George Graham in February 1995 he tried to convince his fellow-board members to appoint Arsene Wenger as manager. They seemed reluctant to bring on board an unknown Frenchman managing in Japan and opted instead for Bruce Rioch
. Following the dismissal of Rioch a year later, Dein again suggested that Arsene Wenger should be appointed as manager. His efforts proved successful 2nd time round and Arsene Wenger was appointed manager of Arsenal in October 1996. It was David Dein who introduced Arsene Wenger to his fellow board members and convinced them to appoint him as manager. No one denies that without Dein, Wenger would never have been appointed manger.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6571099.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2262081.stm
David Dein's success in recruiting Arsene Wenger as manager in September 1996 is enough to ensure his legacy in the history of Arsenal. Together they spent the next decade transforming the club and helping it join the elite clubs of European football.
Dein believed that English football was falling behind other European leagues and was not embracing a forward-looking plan to improve. He saw Arsene Wenger as the man to help push Arsenal forward embracing new methods to achieve this. Dein also believed that Arsene Wenger would change Arsenal's style of play which was seen as dogmatic and one-dimensional to one based on technique and speed more attuned with the approach adopted by teams from the continent.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/3018283/Now-lucky-Wenger-must-deliver-to-leave-Arsenal-fitting-legacy.html%20
http://www.midfielddynamo.com%20
Dein was instrumental in convincing some of the world’s biggest talents to join the club.
In September 1991 he helped Arsenal sign Ian Wright from Crystal Palace for £2.5 million
In June 1995 Dein flew to Milan “and returned with the signature of, for the first time in Arsenal’s history, a true international superstar” Arsenal bought Dutch International Dennis Bergkamp for £7.5 million from Internazionale.
Over the following years, Dein was also responsible for recruiting players such as Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Thierry Henry, Davor Suker, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell, Gilberto, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. All were to contribute heavily to the success of Arsenal.
On 18 April 2007 it was revealed by Arsenal
that he had left the club with immediate effect after "irreconcilable differences" between himself and the rest of the board. It is thought that he was in favour of a possible takeover of Arsenal by an external benefactor seeking to invest money into the club. Arsenal had invested heavily in the development of their new stadium which forced the club to take on heavy debts which meant the club was in need of new revenue. The other members of the board were said to have signed a contractual agreement that they would not sell their shares for a year, and they jointly expressed their intention to retain their shares in the longer term. Dein was replaced as G-14 chairman by Olympique Lyonnais
chairman Jean-Michel Aulas
the following month.
and his business partner Farhad Moshiri
. Dein was appointed as chairman of Red & White, which is the largest shareholder in the club outside of members of the board of directors. In September 2008 he resigned as chairman of Red and White, with The Times
suggesting it was to improve relations between Arsenal and Red & White.
Arsene Wenger described David Dein’s departure “as a sad day for the club”. Following his departure, Wenger was believed to have asked Dein whether he wished him to resign from the post of manager in support for his friend. Dein told Wenger that he should not leave Arsenal as the club would suffer greatly from his loss as manager if he decided to leave.
Arsene Wenger stated "It is a huge disappointment because we worked very closely together, David has contributed highly to the success of the club in the last 10 years and even before that as well. Red and white are the colours of his heart."http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-dein-s-departure-is-sad-for-arsenal
Arsene Wenger also stated “David Dein is needed in football because this guy has revolutionised this club (Arsenal) and also English football. He is top quality."http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+WENGER%3A+FOOTBALL+NEEDS+DAVID+DEIN.-a0163298201
Former Arsenal hero, Ian Wright described David Dein’s departure as follows:
"I know the players aren't happy. I know Thierry Henry's not happy. We're talking about a man [David Dein] who goes into the dressing room after every single game, shakes every player by the hand and who knows all the youth team players."
"I know this for a fact that the manager and the players are 100 per cent behind David Dein and I can see real repercussions coming off the back of this."
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/players-upset-by-deins-departure-445419.html%20
Thierry Henry claimed that David Dein's departure as vice-chairman had dismayed him and left him in no doubt that it was time to move on.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-464262/Wenger-tells-Gunners-Get-Dein-Ill-quit.html%20
in 1992. He eventually rose to the position of vice-chairman of the FA in 2000, a post he held until 2004 when it was scrapped after restructuring. He was subsequently re-elected to the FA Board as an FA Premier League representative.
Dein was a key mover in the FA's manouevreing to hire Sven-Göran Eriksson
as England
manager in 2001. Five years later, in 2006 he was one of four members of an FA panel (the others being Brian Barwick
, Noel White
and Dave Richards
) tasked with identifying Eriksson's replacement. Dein's preferred choice, Luiz Felipe Scolari
, was offered the job and looked set to take it but later changed his mind; the FA eventually chose Middlesbrough
manager Steve McClaren
.
Dein sat on the FA Board until 2 June 2006 as one of four representatives of the FA Premier League
clubs on the Football Association board. He was replaced by David Gill
, chief executive of Manchester United
. This removal came one day after a news story broke on the BBC
's Newsnight
programme regarding possible infringements of FIFA
rules regarding player transfers with, and loans to, Belgian club Beveren
.
The timing of the news story may have been an issue in the vote. The FA compliance committee investigated the BBC's allegations but did not find any breach of FA or Premier League rules by Arsenal.On 30 June 2006, FIFA released a statement claiming there was no evidence whatsoever of any wrongdoing by Arsenal in relation to its ties with Beveren. This came following close consultation with the FA which had investigated the allegations made by Newsnight. FIFA’s statement concluded by stating that “In view of these findings, FIFA does not see any reason for further investigation or for any additional measures to be taken in this connection.”http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/media/newsid=34790.html.
He was the representative of the FA Premier League
on UEFA
's committee for club competitions, and a former member of the FA Council having to step down from his position when he left Arsenal.
He was determined to help football's metamorphosis from struggling sport into a multi-million pound industry.
"I felt football was really a sleeping giant and had a long way to go," Dein said.
"After seeing how the Americans operated their sport, particularly American football and baseball and basketball, I felt we were light years behind.
"We had so much more to give as an attraction."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2262081.stm%20
On the day of his election to Chairmanship of G-14, David Dein stated: "I can see a negotiated settlement between all sides within the next 12 months,".He revealed that himself and Barcelona president Juan Laporta have held talks with Fifa and Uefa.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport%204th%20October%202006
He denied that there were ever any discussions held at G14 on developing a so called “super league” whereby the leading clubs would compete outside the Champions League format.World Soccer May 2008
He continues to provide his views on the future of football around the world be it in media interviews or at conferences and many public speaking engagements. Topics that he has addressed include foreign-ownership of clubs, club finances and levels of debt within the game, goal-line technology (of which he’s a strong advocate), youth development and the development of women's football.http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=32789
In March 2009 he addressed the European Parliament in Brussels calling on FIFA to scrap its proposed 6+5 rule arguing that players should be picked by clubs on the grounds of talent and not nationality. He also called on clubs to be allowed to continue to buy young talent from abroad arguing that it would be wrong to deny the most talented young players the ability to develop in the most suitable environment wherever that may be.Hearing Culture Committee European Parliament 30th March 2009
In 2005, Chelsea
manager José Mourinho
said "A person who works in the club should not work in the FA. The FA is the FA and the club is the club"; he called on David Dein to resign. Mourinho's complaint related to the league programme apparently favouring Arsenal. In 2004-05
, Arsenal played five of their six league games immediately following Champions League
group matches at home, while Chelsea had to play five away.
This was not the only row Dein has had with Chelsea: Dein complained about Chelsea "tapping up" Ashley Cole
, which resulted in Cole, Chelsea and José Mourinho all being fined by the FA. He was later accused of making a "covert" approach for Gilberto Silva
that was similar to Chelsea's approach for Cole, while Gilberto was at Atlético Mineiro. Dein denied this, saying he had made his approach known to Atlético; the president of Mineiro, Alexandre Kall, confirmed Dein's account and said that Arsenal had complied with all the rules. Kall stated “I am shocked to hear about the press reports concerning the sale of Gilberto Silva. I can confirm that Arsenal complied with all the rules and all the negotiations with the player were held exclusively between the two clubs.”http://www.invisiblewall.net/news/?m=200506
In 2006, during the search for a new England manager to replace Eriksson, Bolton Wanderers
manager Sam Allardyce
questioned Dein's role in the FA, saying: "I don't know how much power David Dein has but he obviously has a great influence at the FA", and alleged that Dein had shielded Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger from the selection process. Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson
made similar allegations, but Wenger denied this, saying he had been on FA chief executive Brian Barwick's original longlist, but told him from the outset that he did not want the job, a story later confirmed by the FA.
David Dein’s appointment to the post came following difficulties encountered by the bid team. The bid’s board consisted of a number of politicians and was seen as lacking ‘real’ football people. Relations between the FA’s Chairman Lord Triesman and the Premier League were also seen as difficult.
David Dein’s long years of experience within the game and his contacts at the highest levels of global football was seen as vital in increasing England’s chances of winning the bid.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/4581658/Former-Arsenal-vice-chairman-David-Dein-asked-to-help-Englands-2018-World-Cup-bid.html
Responding to his appointment, David Dein stated:
“I am delighted to be part of the 2018/22 bid and look forward to an exciting campaign. Having had 25 years experience in English, European and world football this was a challenge I could not refuse. Now the hard work begins.”http://ww.goal.com/en-india/news/137/england/2010/02/18/1796670/fa-appoint-david-dein-as-international-president-of-england-2018-%20
David Dein spent many hours meeting with members of FIFA’s Executive Committee during the 2010 World Cup making the case for England to host the tournament in 2018.
He attended over 30 matches in a non-stop charm-offensive. His confidence in the complex waters of football politics were seen as a huge asset.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/7875554/David-Dein-diplomacy-gives-Englands-2018-World-Cup-bid-a-lift.html%20
Within the football world, Dein is also renowned for his lively sense of humour. At a recent presentation of the England bid to key football administrators in which he was given just 12 minutes to make the case for the bid, Dein joked that "the last time I did it in 12 minutes I was 18 years old".http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DAVID+DEIN'S+humorous+approach+plus+%5B...%5D-a0228399375
. He's been married to his wife Barbara for 38 years, has three children and is the grandfather to 4 grandchildren.
David Dein's son, Darren, is a solicitor, and was Thierry Henry
's best man.
Dein was chairman of The Theatre Investment Fund in England.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and former vice-chairman of the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
. He was also the President of the G-14
G-14
The G-14 was an organisation of European football clubs that existed between 2000 and 2008. It consisted of 14 teams initially, later expanded to 18...
group of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an football clubs between October 2006 and May 2007 and has sat on various committees within FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
including UEFA's Club Competition Committee and Executive Committee. In August 2007 he sold his shares in Arsenal F.C. to London-based, Russian-owned business company Red and White Holdings. He was also the International President of England's failed 2018 World Cup bid.
Role at Arsenal
He was Vice-Chairman of Arsenal between 1983 and 2007. He was appointed when he bought a 16.6% share of the club for £292,000 (he later sold a significant proportion to co-director Danny FiszmanDanny Fiszman
Daniel David Fiszman was a diamond dealer, best known as a shareholder in and director of Arsenal Football Club, and played a leading role in the club's move from Highbury to Ashburton Grove, now known as Emirates Stadium....
) At the time of Dein's purchase of the shares in Arsenal back in 1983, Peter Hill Wood Arsenal's Chairman described Dein as "crazy" to invest his money in the club stating that "to all intents and purposes it's dead money". Dein built up his shares until he owned 42% of the club in 1991. During his time at the club, he was responsible for football matters taking an active role in the transfer of players and contract negotiations where he was able to use his extensive network of football contacts. Dein was behind the appointment of the then little known Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
to the manager's job in 1996; under Wenger Arsenal have won the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
three times and the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
four times, and Dein strongly backed him and his transfer wishes throughout.
David Dein was also influential in the transformation of Highbury into an all-seater stadium. Following the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
a report by Lord Justice Taylor
Taylor Report
The Hillsborough Stadium Disaster Inquiry report, better known as the Taylor Report is a document, whose development was overseen by Lord Taylor of Gosforth, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. An interim report was published in August 1989, and the final...
called on all Premier League clubs to introduce all-seater stadiums. Dein was behind the introduction of a bond scheme to finance the redevlopment of Highbury's North Bank and Clock End terraces into all-seater stands.
Dein also helped obtain Arsenal's entry into the G-14
G-14
The G-14 was an organisation of European football clubs that existed between 2000 and 2008. It consisted of 14 teams initially, later expanded to 18...
group of major European football clubs in 2002, and became President of the G-14 in October 2006. A keen promoter of women's football, he was also President of Arsenal Ladies Football Club
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
, the most successful English women's football team, while Arsenal vice-chairman.
David Dein’s legacy at Arsenal cannot be overstated. Alongside Arsene Wenger he has helped to transform the club both on and off the pitch. Today Arsenal is seen as an example of a leading club in world football and is admired around the world. David Dein has been instrumental in transforming Arsenal into what it is today.
David Dein was responsible for bringing Arsene Wenger to the club. Following the dismissal of George Graham in February 1995 he tried to convince his fellow-board members to appoint Arsene Wenger as manager. They seemed reluctant to bring on board an unknown Frenchman managing in Japan and opted instead for Bruce Rioch
Bruce Rioch
Bruce David Rioch is an English-born football manager and former player. He was manager of Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga, until his sacking on 23 October 2008....
. Following the dismissal of Rioch a year later, Dein again suggested that Arsene Wenger should be appointed as manager. His efforts proved successful 2nd time round and Arsene Wenger was appointed manager of Arsenal in October 1996. It was David Dein who introduced Arsene Wenger to his fellow board members and convinced them to appoint him as manager. No one denies that without Dein, Wenger would never have been appointed manger.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6571099.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2262081.stm
David Dein's success in recruiting Arsene Wenger as manager in September 1996 is enough to ensure his legacy in the history of Arsenal. Together they spent the next decade transforming the club and helping it join the elite clubs of European football.
Dein believed that English football was falling behind other European leagues and was not embracing a forward-looking plan to improve. He saw Arsene Wenger as the man to help push Arsenal forward embracing new methods to achieve this. Dein also believed that Arsene Wenger would change Arsenal's style of play which was seen as dogmatic and one-dimensional to one based on technique and speed more attuned with the approach adopted by teams from the continent.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/3018283/Now-lucky-Wenger-must-deliver-to-leave-Arsenal-fitting-legacy.html%20
http://www.midfielddynamo.com%20
Dein was instrumental in convincing some of the world’s biggest talents to join the club.
In September 1991 he helped Arsenal sign Ian Wright from Crystal Palace for £2.5 million
In June 1995 Dein flew to Milan “and returned with the signature of, for the first time in Arsenal’s history, a true international superstar” Arsenal bought Dutch International Dennis Bergkamp for £7.5 million from Internazionale.
Over the following years, Dein was also responsible for recruiting players such as Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Thierry Henry, Davor Suker, Robert Pires, Sol Campbell, Gilberto, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. All were to contribute heavily to the success of Arsenal.
On 18 April 2007 it was revealed by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
that he had left the club with immediate effect after "irreconcilable differences" between himself and the rest of the board. It is thought that he was in favour of a possible takeover of Arsenal by an external benefactor seeking to invest money into the club. Arsenal had invested heavily in the development of their new stadium which forced the club to take on heavy debts which meant the club was in need of new revenue. The other members of the board were said to have signed a contractual agreement that they would not sell their shares for a year, and they jointly expressed their intention to retain their shares in the longer term. Dein was replaced as G-14 chairman by Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
chairman Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas
Jean-Michel Aulas is a French businessman. He is the founder and CEO of CEGID and serves as the owner and chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais whom he has owned since 1987. Aulas has also expanded his branch of football knowledge through Europe...
the following month.
Sale of Arsenal shareholding
In August 2007, David Dein sold his 9,072 shares (14.58%) in the club for £75 million to Red & White Holdings, an investment vehicle of Russian metal billionaire Alisher UsmanovAlisher Usmanov
Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov is an Uzbek-born Russian businessman.According to the 2011 edition of Forbes magazine, the oligarch is one of Russia's richest men, with a fortune estimated at US$17.7 billion, and the world's 35th richest person.Usmanov is married and is a graduate of Moscow State...
and his business partner Farhad Moshiri
Farhad Moshiri (businessman)
Ardavan Farhad Moshiri is a British Iranian businessman and investor, based in London. Moshiri owns and has shares in numerous steel and energy companies in Britain and Russia....
. Dein was appointed as chairman of Red & White, which is the largest shareholder in the club outside of members of the board of directors. In September 2008 he resigned as chairman of Red and White, with The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
suggesting it was to improve relations between Arsenal and Red & White.
Departure from Arsenal
David Dein’s departure from Arsenal was met with a strong reaction from key figures at the club.Arsene Wenger described David Dein’s departure “as a sad day for the club”. Following his departure, Wenger was believed to have asked Dein whether he wished him to resign from the post of manager in support for his friend. Dein told Wenger that he should not leave Arsenal as the club would suffer greatly from his loss as manager if he decided to leave.
Arsene Wenger stated "It is a huge disappointment because we worked very closely together, David has contributed highly to the success of the club in the last 10 years and even before that as well. Red and white are the colours of his heart."http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-dein-s-departure-is-sad-for-arsenal
Arsene Wenger also stated “David Dein is needed in football because this guy has revolutionised this club (Arsenal) and also English football. He is top quality."http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+WENGER%3A+FOOTBALL+NEEDS+DAVID+DEIN.-a0163298201
Former Arsenal hero, Ian Wright described David Dein’s departure as follows:
"I know the players aren't happy. I know Thierry Henry's not happy. We're talking about a man [David Dein] who goes into the dressing room after every single game, shakes every player by the hand and who knows all the youth team players."
"I know this for a fact that the manager and the players are 100 per cent behind David Dein and I can see real repercussions coming off the back of this."
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/players-upset-by-deins-departure-445419.html%20
Thierry Henry claimed that David Dein's departure as vice-chairman had dismayed him and left him in no doubt that it was time to move on.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-464262/Wenger-tells-Gunners-Get-Dein-Ill-quit.html%20
Role at the Football Association
In 1986 Dein was voted onto the board of the Football League Management Committee and subsequently achieved a place on the FA Council. He was also one of the major architects of the FA Premier LeagueFA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
in 1992. He eventually rose to the position of vice-chairman of the FA in 2000, a post he held until 2004 when it was scrapped after restructuring. He was subsequently re-elected to the FA Board as an FA Premier League representative.
Dein was a key mover in the FA's manouevreing to hire Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
as England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
manager in 2001. Five years later, in 2006 he was one of four members of an FA panel (the others being Brian Barwick
Brian Barwick
Brian Barwick is an English football administrator and the former chief executive of The Football Association having held the post from January 2005 to December 2008. He previously worked with the BBC and ITV. He is a known supporter of Liverpool F.C...
, Noel White
Noel White
Noel White is a retired businessman & football club director & administrator from the North West of England. He was one of the founding architects of The F.A...
and Dave Richards
Dave Richards
Sir Dave Richards is the chairman of the FA Premier League, member of the Football Association 's Board, chairman of the FA's international committee, president of the European Professional Football Leagues organisation, chairman of UEFA's Professional Football Committee and former chairman of...
) tasked with identifying Eriksson's replacement. Dein's preferred choice, Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari , ComIH , also known as Felipão in Brazil and Phil Scolari in the United Kingdom, is a World Cup-winning Brazilian football manager. He is currently the manager of Palmeiras. He served as the manager of the Portuguese national team from July 12, 2003 to June 30, 2008...
, was offered the job and looked set to take it but later changed his mind; the FA eventually chose Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
manager Steve McClaren
Steve McClaren
Stephen "Steve" McClaren is an English football manager and former player.McClaren was previously manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011, having left his post at Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season...
.
Dein sat on the FA Board until 2 June 2006 as one of four representatives of the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
clubs on the Football Association board. He was replaced by David Gill
David Gill (executive)
David Alan Gill is British football executive, currently Chief Executive of Manchester United F.C. and a board member of the Football Association...
, chief executive of Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. This removal came one day after a news story broke on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
programme regarding possible infringements of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
rules regarding player transfers with, and loans to, Belgian club Beveren
K.S.K. Beveren
Koninklijke Sportkring Beveren was a Belgian association football club from the town of Beveren in East Flanders. It was famous for its goalkeeping school that has produced such players as Jean-Marie Pfaff, Filip De Wilde, Geert De Vlieger, Erwin Lemmens, and Tristan Peersman, all of whom have...
.
The timing of the news story may have been an issue in the vote. The FA compliance committee investigated the BBC's allegations but did not find any breach of FA or Premier League rules by Arsenal.On 30 June 2006, FIFA released a statement claiming there was no evidence whatsoever of any wrongdoing by Arsenal in relation to its ties with Beveren. This came following close consultation with the FA which had investigated the allegations made by Newsnight. FIFA’s statement concluded by stating that “In view of these findings, FIFA does not see any reason for further investigation or for any additional measures to be taken in this connection.”http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/media/newsid=34790.html.
He was the representative of the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
on UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
's committee for club competitions, and a former member of the FA Council having to step down from his position when he left Arsenal.
Role in developing the Premier League
David Dein was one of the major architects of the formation of the Premier League in 1992, which would re-shape the structure and finances of English football.He was determined to help football's metamorphosis from struggling sport into a multi-million pound industry.
"I felt football was really a sleeping giant and had a long way to go," Dein said.
"After seeing how the Americans operated their sport, particularly American football and baseball and basketball, I felt we were light years behind.
"We had so much more to give as an attraction."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/2262081.stm%20
G-14
David Dein was appointed President of G14 in October 2006 and used his time at the head of the organisation to try to reduce the tension between clubs and country and develop better relations between clubs and international governing federations such as UEFA and FIFA. At the time several legal disputes between clubs and FIFA and national associations relating to the release of players for international matches were on-going. It led to an agreement on compensation for the release of players for international tournaments.http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/nov/28/sport.comment2%20http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/g14-dispute-prompts-fifa-insurance-investigation-427337.html%20On the day of his election to Chairmanship of G-14, David Dein stated: "I can see a negotiated settlement between all sides within the next 12 months,".He revealed that himself and Barcelona president Juan Laporta have held talks with Fifa and Uefa.http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport%204th%20October%202006
He denied that there were ever any discussions held at G14 on developing a so called “super league” whereby the leading clubs would compete outside the Champions League format.World Soccer May 2008
Activities since leaving Arsenal
Since his departure from Arsenal David Dein has continued to remain active on the football scene. He continues to attend all of Arsenal’s home matches and is present at most international tournaments as a guest of UEFA and FIFA.World Soccer May 2008He continues to provide his views on the future of football around the world be it in media interviews or at conferences and many public speaking engagements. Topics that he has addressed include foreign-ownership of clubs, club finances and levels of debt within the game, goal-line technology (of which he’s a strong advocate), youth development and the development of women's football.http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=32789
In March 2009 he addressed the European Parliament in Brussels calling on FIFA to scrap its proposed 6+5 rule arguing that players should be picked by clubs on the grounds of talent and not nationality. He also called on clubs to be allowed to continue to buy young talent from abroad arguing that it would be wrong to deny the most talented young players the ability to develop in the most suitable environment wherever that may be.Hearing Culture Committee European Parliament 30th March 2009
Alleged Conflict of Interest
Dein's dual role as director of Arsenal and as a senior member of the Football Association's executive led to accusations of conflicts of interest.In 2005, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
manager José Mourinho
José Mourinho
José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho is a Portuguese football manager and the current manager of Real Madrid. He is commonly known as "The Special One".Mourinho is regarded by some players, coaches and critics as the best ever coach in football....
said "A person who works in the club should not work in the FA. The FA is the FA and the club is the club"; he called on David Dein to resign. Mourinho's complaint related to the league programme apparently favouring Arsenal. In 2004-05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
, Arsenal played five of their six league games immediately following Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group matches at home, while Chelsea had to play five away.
This was not the only row Dein has had with Chelsea: Dein complained about Chelsea "tapping up" Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole is an Barbadian-English professional footballer who plays for Chelsea and the England national team. He plays as a left-back and has been named one of the best in the world....
, which resulted in Cole, Chelsea and José Mourinho all being fined by the FA. He was later accused of making a "covert" approach for Gilberto Silva
Gilberto Silva
Gilberto Aparecido da Silva, commonly known as Gilberto Silva, is a Brazilian footballer. He currently plays for Grêmio.Gilberto was raised in a poor family and as a child he balanced playing football with various labour jobs. He began his football career in 1997 with América Mineiro, where good...
that was similar to Chelsea's approach for Cole, while Gilberto was at Atlético Mineiro. Dein denied this, saying he had made his approach known to Atlético; the president of Mineiro, Alexandre Kall, confirmed Dein's account and said that Arsenal had complied with all the rules. Kall stated “I am shocked to hear about the press reports concerning the sale of Gilberto Silva. I can confirm that Arsenal complied with all the rules and all the negotiations with the player were held exclusively between the two clubs.”http://www.invisiblewall.net/news/?m=200506
In 2006, during the search for a new England manager to replace Eriksson, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
questioned Dein's role in the FA, saying: "I don't know how much power David Dein has but he obviously has a great influence at the FA", and alleged that Dein had shielded Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger from the selection process. Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson
Steve Gibson (chairman)
Steve Gibson is an entrepreneur and the chairman and owner of Middlesbrough Football Club. He is acclaimed in Middlesbrough for being a local working class man who made good...
made similar allegations, but Wenger denied this, saying he had been on FA chief executive Brian Barwick's original longlist, but told him from the outset that he did not want the job, a story later confirmed by the FA.
England 2018 World Cup bid
In February 2010 David Dein was appointed International President of England’s 2018 World Cup bid. David Dein will be responsible for lobbying members of FIFA’s Executive Committee who will decide which country will stage the 2018 World Cup.http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/19/david-dein-england-2018-world-cup%20David Dein’s appointment to the post came following difficulties encountered by the bid team. The bid’s board consisted of a number of politicians and was seen as lacking ‘real’ football people. Relations between the FA’s Chairman Lord Triesman and the Premier League were also seen as difficult.
David Dein’s long years of experience within the game and his contacts at the highest levels of global football was seen as vital in increasing England’s chances of winning the bid.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/4581658/Former-Arsenal-vice-chairman-David-Dein-asked-to-help-Englands-2018-World-Cup-bid.html
Responding to his appointment, David Dein stated:
“I am delighted to be part of the 2018/22 bid and look forward to an exciting campaign. Having had 25 years experience in English, European and world football this was a challenge I could not refuse. Now the hard work begins.”http://ww.goal.com/en-india/news/137/england/2010/02/18/1796670/fa-appoint-david-dein-as-international-president-of-england-2018-%20
David Dein spent many hours meeting with members of FIFA’s Executive Committee during the 2010 World Cup making the case for England to host the tournament in 2018.
He attended over 30 matches in a non-stop charm-offensive. His confidence in the complex waters of football politics were seen as a huge asset.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/7875554/David-Dein-diplomacy-gives-Englands-2018-World-Cup-bid-a-lift.html%20
Within the football world, Dein is also renowned for his lively sense of humour. At a recent presentation of the England bid to key football administrators in which he was given just 12 minutes to make the case for the bid, Dein joked that "the last time I did it in 12 minutes I was 18 years old".http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DAVID+DEIN'S+humorous+approach+plus+%5B...%5D-a0228399375
Personal life
David Dein lives in TotteridgeTotteridge
Totteridge is an area of the London Borough of Barnet in north London, England. It is a mixture of suburban development and open land situated 8.20 miles north north-west of Charing Cross....
. He's been married to his wife Barbara for 38 years, has three children and is the grandfather to 4 grandchildren.
David Dein's son, Darren, is a solicitor, and was Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
's best man.
Dein was chairman of The Theatre Investment Fund in England.