Daniel Burley Woolfall 1852 – 1918

Biography

Daniel Burley Woolfall was born on June 15, 1852, in Blackburn, England, during a period of remarkable industrial and social change. His life would eventually lead him to positions of significant influence in the sporting world, reflecting the growing importance of organized athletics in British society.

Woolfall rose to prominence as a football administrator, serving as President of FIFA from 1906 until his death in 1918. During his tenure, he oversaw the international governing body during a formative period in football history, helping to establish the framework for the sport’s global development and standardization of rules.

His leadership spanned a critical era marked by the expansion of international football competitions and the growing professionalization of the game. Woolfall’s contributions to FIFA during these early decades helped shape the organization that would become central to world football for generations to come.

Daniel Burley Woolfall passed away on October 24, 1918, at the conclusion of the First World War. His twelve-year presidency left a lasting legacy on international football administration, and he is remembered as an important figure in FIFA’s foundational years.