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5th August 2025 – The shareholders of the European League of Football (ELF) have announced a significant leadership change: Ingo Schiller has been appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with immediate effect.
The 60-year-old sports executive and financial expert will take on a central role in the strategic and economic development of the league. Schiller’s appointment was unanimously approved by the ELF shareholders.
As previously announced, ELF co-founder and current CEO Zeljko Karajica will step down from management and operational duties at the end of the 2025 season.
In his new position, Schiller will lead upcoming discussions with representatives from the league’s 16 franchises across nine countries. The focus of these talks will be to collaboratively develop a stable and sustainable model for all stakeholders and ensure the long-term future of the ELF. A meeting with franchise representatives will be convened soon, with particular attention given to suggestions from the European Football Alliance (EFA).
Schiller brings over 30 years of experience in sports and finance. From 1992 to 1998, he led the marketing, sales, and merchandising departments at Borussia Mönchengladbach and served as commercial managing director of Stadionbau GmbH. From 1998 to 2022, he was managing director at Hertha BSC, overseeing key areas such as finance, organisation, marketing & sales, infrastructure, human resources, legal, IT, and new business. He also served on the supervisory board of the German Football League (DFL) from 2013 to 2022 and represented the DFL on the executive board of the German Football Association (DFB). Since 2023, Schiller has operated his own consultancy specialising in corporate management, structural development, and mediation.
“With Ingo Schiller, we’ve gained a partner who has proven over decades how to lead sports organisations strategically, economically, and structurally,”
says Patrick Esume, ELF Commissioner.
“I greatly appreciate having him at my side through the end of this season—and beyond that, the league’s leadership is in the best possible hands,“
says ELF-CEO Zeljko Karajica.
“I’m looking forward to this task because I see enormous potential in the European League of Football—both in terms of athletic development and commercial success. The league has grown rapidly and excites football fans around the world, yet it is still at the beginning of its journey. I’m highly motivated to actively help shape the ELF in this responsible role, in close coordination with the franchises and shareholders,”
says Ingo Schiller, the new Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer of the European League of Football.
“Especially now, as we look to take the ELF to the next level and make it future-proof after a rapid build-up, Ingo Schiller—with his wealth of experience and expertise—is the right person in the right place. We’re very pleased to have brought him on board,”
says Heinz Kierchhoff on behalf of the ELF shareholders.
