Phil Townsend Joins Uefa

UEFA has announced the appointment of Phil Townsend as its new managing director of communications.

Townsend has stepped down from his role at Manchester United after 14 years, and will join European football’s governing body in June.

He will succeed Pedro Pinto, who will be leaving his role to return to his native Portugal.

Townsend said: “I have always had the highest regard for UEFA and its work in the development of the game across Europe.

“It is a great honour to have been asked to take on this role.

“It was a difficult decision to leave United after so many years working alongside so many good people in a club with such huge global significance in the game but this is a wonderful opportunity at a very important time for European football.”