February 5 – Concacaf president Victor Montagliani, speaking at his confederation’s congress in Managua, Nicaragua, at the weekend, struck both a reflective note on the world’s fragile politics and a powerful endorsement of his own confederation’s progression to the centre of the football world with the World Cup in their region this summer.
In a speech that recognised the progress that his members have made both on and off the pitch since the dark days of 2015 when its senior officials found themselves on the wrong side of US law enforcement, he praised the commitment and leadership of his member associations, and “an ethos that leadership is about service, not about power.”
It probably wasn’t a message intentionally focussed for the FIFA delegation and other world leaders in the room, but it was certainly one that most in the room (and wider across the football world) have increasingly felt that FIFA with its deep and uncomfortable dive into global politics needs to take on board.
“Today it is important to recognise that outside this room the world is a little complicated,” said Montagliani, an unequivocally proud Canadian who has the ear of his own country’s football supporting prime minister Mark Carney.
“There are many places, organisations, collaborations where trust is fading and rules are being tested if not ignored, however, the values that bind us as one Concacaf matter now more than ever.
“What are these values? Equity, interdependence, because we celebrate our diversity at Concacaf. And transformation. Why? Because all this change and growth has been done together,” he continued.
“It’s these values that are not just words but are actions. Really, I think the world of football needs more Concacafs. I really think the world needs more Concacafs. So Chapeau to you who do this every day.”
Montagliani has now been Concacaf president for 10 years, taking over when the confederation’s two previous presidents and interim president had either been jailed or were facing extradition to the US as part of the FIFAgate corruption scandal.
Concacaf’s journey from those dark days to the shining light of World Cup hosting has been remarkable, and Montagliani’s ability to both lead and unite his culturally disparate national membership under a common goal and his One Concacaf mantra has made the confederation perhaps the biggest and most impressive socio-economic story in world football.
“We have had a decade of transformation because we are fit for purpose. We have steered Concacaf’s rebuild when it was broken,” he said.
“However, we are now stable, respected. We have earned the right to think long term and we can now invest in confidence. This didn’t happen by chance. It happened because the whole region knew we were in this together.
“The leadership in this room is very strong… very strong in opinion, but also selfless because you live by the ethos that leadership is about service, not about power.
“We make decisions for the many, not the few. We hold ourselves and other accountable for what they say, because words do matter.”
The last 10 years have seen Concacaf completely overhaul its competition structures, development programmes and membership programmes, providing more and new opportunities to compete and raise standards. Now the region is deeply immersed in the greatest show on earth.
“We stand on the doorstep of the biggest event in the world. Concacaf is exactly where it wants to be, at the very centre of world football. I am ready to be proud, ready to enjoy, ready to celebrate our achievements,” said Montagliani, who recognised the global and football importance of this summer’s mission.
“World Cup is not just a destination, it is a responsibility and opportunity for us. Our responsibility is to this great event but also to ensure it has a lasting legacy,” he said.
“We need to ensure growth at home, in your backyard.
“We will continue to invest in governance, facilities, coaching and youth development. But above all we will continue to invest in the humanity of our game because humanity is based on plural, not single.”
There have been two core themes throughout Montagliani’s presidency. The first, and particularly relevant in the early years of his leadership, is that football always comes first, look after the game above all else. The second is that unity and common purpose is the only way to achieve the first.
“We must continue to remember our lessons because unity matters, because integrity matters… progress is never guaranteed unless we continue to nurture our football,” said.
Concluding his address he paid tribute to his members, but also laid down the challenge for the future.
“As president I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved as One Concacaf, but I am more excited about what comes next.
“They say you have to climb to reach the top, but when you are at the top you are at the bottom of the next mountain.
“Our confederation and foundation is strong, our direction is clear…Thank you for your leadership and the choice you make every day to be a leader.”
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