Pune: DSK Shivajians Football Club, the first division I-League side owned and operated by the diversified business conglomerate DSK Group, is all set to realise bigger goals under the leadership of its newly-appointed CEO Neel Shah.
Shah is known for his deep experience in the development and commercialization of football in North America and Asia over the past 13 years while holding senior level positions with Major League Soccer, Dentsu and Libero Sports.
He will now be instrumental in the management of DSK Shivajians Football Club, Liverpool FC International Academy – DSK Shivajians and programming partnerships for DSK Group’s sports infrastructure projects.
Speaking on the appointment and the way ahead for DSK Shivajians FC, Mr. Shirish Kulkarni, Executive Director, DSK Group and Chairman, DSK Shivajians FC said, “DSK Group has ambitious plans to raise the level of football in the country from the ground up and Neel is the ideal person to lead us in achieving our objectives. He has the right mix of vision, passion, and global sports experience to ensure sustainable, yet impactful growth. We are excited to officially welcome him into the DSK Shivajians family.”
In his new role, Mr. Shah will oversee DSK Shivajians FC which is currently the newest entrants into the I-League, India’s top domestic professional football league. In addition, he will head operations for the Liverpool FC International Academy – DSK Shivajians (LFC-DSK). LFC-DSK, resulted out of a partnership between global football giants Liverpool FC and DSK Group, is currently considered as the top residential youth program in the country.
On his appointment as CEO, DSK Shivajians FC and Liverpool FC International Academy – DSK Shivajians, Neel Shah said, “I have great respect for the Kulkarni family and how they have chosen to support the growth of football in the country – through investing in infrastructure and youth development. With a world-class football Academy already in place, a team in the I-League first division and a 15,000-seat football stadium on the way, I am confident that we will be able to create the type of football ecosystem and player pathway that will put Indian football on the global map.”
On top of DSK Shivajians’ football properties, Shah will also oversee the programming and partnerships for DSK Group’s sports infrastructure which includes a 15,000-seat football specific stadium, 36 international sports facilities and 9 full-fledged sports academies. These plans are all a part of the 300 acre “Dream City” residential and commercial township that the DSK Group has launched on the Pune-Solapur highway.
Shah’s association with DSK Shivajians FC goes back to 2013 when he was at the forefront of managing the DSK Group – Liverpool FC tie-up along with playing a pivotal role in setting up the initial operations of the Academy between 2013 and 2014.
While at Delhi based Libero Sports, Neel provided advisory services for over 25 football investors and, in 2011, facilitated a landmark partnership for FC Barcelona to establish a permanent base in the country. Most recently, Shah was instrumental in bringing legendary football icon Pele to India to attend the 2015 Subroto Cup Finals in Delhi.
Prior to moving to India in 2009, Neel spent 7 years with New York based Major League Soccer serving most recently as the league’s Director of Fan Development. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the league’s national grassroots programming, working with MLS clubs to build their local market relevance and liaising with club supporter groups.
