Michele Uva has been officially appointed as Executive Director for Italy’s role in UEFA EURO 2032, marking a new chapter in his long-standing career in international sport.
Uva will step down from his role at UEFA, where he has served since 2017, most recently as Executive Director for Social and Environmental Sustainability. In that position, he led the organization’s sustainability strategy over the past five years.
In October 2025, Uva was named in the TIME100 Climate list, becoming the first figure from the sports industry to be recognized among the most influential global leaders on climate issues.
He had already been identified in May 2025 by UEFA as a key figure within the Italian Organizing Committee for EURO 2032, paving the way for his latest appointment.
Uva brings nearly four decades of experience across Italian and international sport. He began his career in volleyball, holding leadership roles at clubs such as Zinella Bologna and Sisley Treviso, before achieving domestic and European success with Latte Rugiada Matera. He also served as president of the Italian Women’s Volleyball League until 1996.
He later transitioned into football, serving as general manager of Parma Calcio between 1996 and 2001, where he won multiple titles including the UEFA Cup. He also held senior executive roles at SS Lazio.
After additional roles in basketball and consultancy, Uva joined the Italian Football Federation in 2009, becoming director general in 2014 before leaving in 2018.
Alongside his executive career, he served on UEFA’s Executive Committee and as vice-president between 2017 and 2020. In recent years, he has played a central role in shaping sustainability policies in European football, including the UEFA Sustainability Strategy 2030, while contributing to preparations for EURO 2032.