Who is Noel Mooney? Profile of incoming FAI chief | Independent.ie

Who is Noel Mooney? Profile of incoming FAI chief | Independent.ie Noel Mooney was handed interim control of the FAI last night, with the UEFA employee's six-month secondment to Abbotstown formally announced. Mooney is a former League of Ireland goalkeeper from Cappamore in Limerick. He lined out with Limerick, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers during his playing career. The highlight was an FAI Cup win with Cork in 1998. He joined the FAI in 2006 as their club promotions officer and moved onto a broader role with responsibility for marketing the league and general promotions. Like most of the FAI staff employed during that period, he was also called upon to help with the attempts to push the sale of premium level tickets to fund the FAI's commitment to the Aviva Stadium. Mooney completed a postgraduate degree in marketing studies in DIT while working with the FAI. At the end of 2011, Mooney was recruited by UEFA for a role as a marketing manager. "I wish to pay tribute to the FAI CEO, John Delaney, who has always been an inspiration to work with," he said. Mooney's brief with UEFA has also broadened out across his time with European football's governing body. He is the head of national associations business development, with a large part of that role involving working with UEFA's member nations. Mooney was present for Ireland's opening Euro 2020 qualifier in Gibraltar because he was helping out the natives. That match was overshadowed by the changes at the FAI arising from Delaney's bridging loan to the Association. Two years ago, Mooney was a special guest at the FAI's AGM. He hailed the 'phenomenal' work of the Abbotstown hierarchy and Delaney.