Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has landed a new international football role. Wanyama was appointed to the FIFPRO Global Player Council (GPC) on September 30. The FIFPRO Global Player Council is a platform for active professional footballers with international experience to influence the development and regulation of the football industry.
The council comprises both male and female players, who collectively voice their concerns to address cross-border issues affecting their livelihoods, in collaboration with FIFPRO and its affiliated national player associations.
While relaunching the GPC, FIFPRO noted that it brings together 37 men’s and women’s footballers from across the world “to ensure player voices are central to decisions shaping the future of the game.”
Players on the council include World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, Women’s World Cup winner and Olympic champion Crystal Dunn, five-time Women’s Champions League winner Lucy Bronze, and players who have captained their national team, such as Chris Wood, Victor Wanyama, Jackson Irvine, Caroline Weir, Elena Linari, and Wataru Endo.
The Global Player Council, launched in 2019, provides a platform for active players with international experience to speak directly on matters affecting their careers. It ensures that perspectives from both men’s and women’s football, across different continents and competitions, are heard.
“All of these players have demonstrated leadership on and off the pitch, and we’re proud to have them as members of FIFPRO’s Global Player Council. Footballers hold the power to shape their industry for the better. We thank these players for devoting their time and effort to advocating and defending the rights of their colleagues with such passion and courage,” FIFPRO Secretary General Alex Phillips said.
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About GPC
All council members are closely engaged with their domestic player unions, ensuring their representation at the global level is grounded in the support and guidance of their national associations.
The council will support FIFPRO and its national associations on player-centric matters, including the international match calendar, employment standards, player data, social media abuse, and other related issues.
While national player unions are the key drivers of the collective voice of footballers domestically, the council strengthens the capacity to address issues at the international level.
“Being part of FIFPRO’s Global Player Council gives me the opportunity to use my platform to shape the game for the better and ensure that the player voice is heard in football’s key decision-making,” said Jackson Irvine (St Pauli and Australia). “It’s a privilege to represent teammates and colleagues by being part of this council, and I am proud to stand alongside such a talented and committed group of players from all over the world.”
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On her part, Chelsea and England player Lucy Bronze said, “I’m in a position where I can help other people; sharing experiences with different people from all over the world is so valuable in promoting and improving our game. Being part of the Global Player Council has given me a lot in my career and helped me as well, so it was a no-brainer to be a part of it [again].”
Wanyama among Global Player Council members
Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria), Alessandro Bastoni (Italy), Lucy Bronze (England), Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela), Aldana Cometti (Argentina), Charlyn Corral (Mexico), Tierna Davidson (USA), Crystal Dunn (USA), Wataru Endo (Japan), Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden), Yui Hasegawa (Japan), Jackson Irvine (Australia), Racheal Kundananji (Zambia), Elena Linari (Italy), Ashalata Devi Loitongbam (India), Roberto Lopes (Cape Verde), Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Ana Lucia Martinez (Guatemala), Terrence Mashego (South Africa), Griedge Mbock (France). Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands), Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe), Robin Propper (Netherlands), Rizky Ridho (Indonesia), Miles Robinson (USA), Leicy Santos (Colombia), Rasmus Schuller (Finland), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), Jermaine Seoposenwe (South Africa), Vladimir Stojkovic (Serbia), Gabriel Torres (Panama), Xime Velazco (Uruguay), Barbora Votikova (Czechia), Victor Wanyama (Kenya), Caroline Weir (Scotland), Chris Wood (New Zealand) and Tameka Yallop (Australia).
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