Long-term successor to Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano mooted in new report

Amid a period of transition at the Etihad Stadium, a further longer-term change within the Manchester City boardroom has now been mooted in a new report.

The latest thread of information follows on from the news that Omar Berrada would be bringing an end to his hugely successful time with Manchester City and the City Football Group to join Manchester United as the Old Trafford club’s new CEO.

City remain calm with regards to Berrada’s exit, and simply see the move as a testament to their position in European football, and that the distance between themselves and competitors means they do not have to stand in the way of ambition.

However, one reason behind Manchester City’s immense success within the game is their ability to plan ahead, with their latest strategy concerning the club and wider group’s CEO position, and a potential successor to Ferran Soriano.

As per a new report from MailSport, while there is no sign of Ferran Soriano stepping aside from his current position at the Etihad Stadium, there is a suggestion that City’s group chief operating officer Roel de Vries is viewed as his long-term successor.

Roel De Vries was first appointed to a then-newly created role of Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO) in September 2020, reporting directly to Ferran Soriano.

As such, De Vries is currently responsible for the leadership and coordination of club business operations for all clubs within the expansive global portfolio of the City Football Group.

The 55-year-old – prior to joining City Football Group – has worked in several global executive positions over an impressive top-level career spanning around 25 years.

That CV includes Nissan Motor Corporation and their partnerships with the UEFA Champions league, the Rio Olympics, the International Cricket Board, the NBA in China, and perhaps most notably with legendary Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt.