“I grew up playing in the schoolyard with the boy, and on the side of the grounds my dad coached on. I have a lot of fond memories.”

English-American football manager and executive

Jillian Anne Ellis is an English-American football manager and executive. As of March 2026, she serves as chief football officer of FIFA, a post she took in December 2024. Ellis has built her career in football management and administration, moving from coaching into one of the sport’s top executive roles. Her public profile is tied to leadership in the game rather than to a single playing career, and her name is most often associated with modern football governance and development.