**Former Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth is returning to the Football Association as their first chief football officer.**
The news he was re-joining the FA [was revealed by BBC sports editor Dan Roan on Tuesday,](/sport/football/articles/cp8ynx7z6mjo) and it has now been confirmed he will fill the newly created chief football officer role.
The 54-year-old will lead the FA's high performance strategy, with his responsibilities ranging from developing successful England teams to growing the number of homegrown coaches.
He will also oversee the regeneration of St George's Park, the national football centre, before Euro 2028.
Ashworth was initially the FA's director of elite development and later became its technical director during his first spell at English football's national governing body between 2013 and 2019.
Since leaving the FA, he has held director roles at Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, and most recently Manchester United.
He left [Old Trafford in December 2024](/sport/football/articles/c1elzp6xeq7o) after spending just five months as sporting director.
"Dan is hugely influential and respected figure in the game, who has a long-standing commitment to England football," FA CEO Mark Bullingham said.