SBM
Sara Booth MBE
Head of Women's Competitions
FIFA
Sara is currently FIFA’s Head of Women’s Competitions with the Women’s Football Division, having joined the organisation in January 2018. Responsible for the strategic direction of existing and new competitions, Sara also has oversight for the women’s international match calendar and other competition related matters.
Prior to moving to Zurich, Sara was in charge of women’s football development at the Irish Football Association (IFA) where she worked for 15 years. In her initial role, she spearheaded the growth and development of women’s football in Northern Ireland from 2002 to 2014. Highlights during her tenure include the reintroduction of the Northern Ireland Women’s National Team to competitive football in 2004, following a hiatus of five years. She also oversaw an increase in the number of post-primary schools delivering girls football to an all-time high of 85%. In 2012, Sara secured a three-year TV deal that provided weekly coverage of the NIWFA Premier League on Ulster Television and was a catalyst in elevating the profile of women’s football in Northern Ireland.
Sara is a former Northern Ireland captain and international football player amassing 32 caps. At club level she played in the top Premier League until 2013 (a playing career of 22 years), winning the Premier League twelve times and playing in the UEFA Women's Champions League six times.
Sara was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2018 for services to women’s football. Recently, it was announced that Sara will receive an Honorary Doctorate from Ulster University in recognition of her outstanding leadership in women’s football and following her contribution to women’s football in Northern Ireland.
My interests
Loading