Real Madrid dominates new UEFA Football Board

European football’s governing body has announced the 24 members of its inaugural UEFA Football Board.

The new committee is designed to bring greater footballing experience and elite-level expertise to UEFA’s decision-making process.

The 24-man list contains some of the most well-respected and decorated names in the history of football, as well as a handful of current players and managers. The board will meet for the first time on Monday, 24 April.

Included in the list are five men to have taken charge of Real Madrid, including current boss Carlo Ancelotti. He joins Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez, Fabio Capello and Zinedine Zidane on the Football Board.

Juan Mata, currently at Turkish side Galatasaray, is the only active player on the list, but the recently retired Gareth Bale is also included.

Here’s the full list of members for UEFA’s new Football Board:

Jose Mourinho, Roma manager

Eric Abidal, former France defender

Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid manager

Gareth Bale, former Wales forward

Rafael Benitez, former Liverpool manager

Fabio Capello, former England manager

Petr Cech, former Czech Republic keeper

Rio Ferdinand, former England defender

Luis Figo, former Portugal forward

Robbie Keane, former Republic of Ireland striker

Jurgen Klinsmann, South Korea manager

Ronald Koeman, Netherlands manager

Philipp Lahm, former Germany defender

Henrik Larsson, former Sweden striker

Michael Laudrup, former Denmark attacking midfielder

Paolo Maldini, former Italy defender

Roberto Martinez, Portugal manager

Juan Mata, Galatasaray midfielder

Predrag Mijatovic, former Montenegro forward

Gareth Southgate, England manager

Patrick Vieira, former France midfielder

Rudi Voller, former Germany striker

Javier Zanetti, former Argentina defender

Zinedine Zidane, former Real Madrid manager

The new body was approved by UEFA’s Executive Committee in a meeting in Lisbon earlier this month and will provide new expertise in the decision-making process.

A statement from UEFA says that the 24 members will be asked to give their insight on areas including “Laws of the Game, refereeing, match calendar, elite youth development and players well-being.”

Those including the initial list were selected due to their “outstanding club or national team football achievements, impeccable international reputation and extensive experience.”

In announcing the new board, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: “UEFA is delighted to see that the very ones who have shaped the game’s history with their talents and philosophy through decades are gathered again around our common goal - to protect the game of football and its essential values.”

The Board of Football will meet on an annual basis, but may also be called for additional meetings whenever necessary. The first matter at hand, UEFA says, will be discussions on refereeing matters.