12 Facts About Mark Palios

Markos Palios was born on 9 November 1952 and is an English chartered accountant, football administrator and former professional footballer.

Whilst playing in a friendly amateur game in 2001 Mark Palios was elbowed in the chest and suffered a double cardiac arrest, but recovered and went on to resume playing football until the age of 58.

Mark Palios developed a successful career as a chartered accountant with Arthur Young and ultimately became a senior partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, specialising in business turnaround.

Mark Palios then changed direction, resigning from PwC to become the Football Association's chief executive in July 2003, where he sought to apply his business skills in the field of sports governance.

Mark Palios saved The FA from having to borrow a further $230 million, which would have put the whole organisation into financial jeopardy.

Mark Palios was not frightened to take tough decisions including a decision to ban Rio Ferdinand from the England team to play against Turkey in a crucial European Championship qualifier in 2004, for failing to take a drugs test despite widespread pressure from the remainder of the team, who threatened to go on strike but ultimately backed down.

Mark Palios resigned in August 2004, following media revelations around his brief relationship with a Football Association secretary, Faria Alam, who subsequently went on to have an affair with the England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.