Wales Captain Ben Davies Joins FAW Council at Age 33

The Wales captain looks perfectly at ease in the FAW committee room, swapping his Tottenham kit for a seat at the boardroom table.

Ben Davies made history in August 2024 when he became the first active player appointed to the Football Association of Wales Council. The 33-year-old defender now splits his time between Premier League matches and governance meetings at Dragon Park in Newport, where he represents the interests of Welsh players at every level.

His motivation is simple: giving back to the game that's given him so much. "It's an absolute honour and privilege to play football for Wales," Davies told BBC Wales Sport during rare access to a council meeting. "If I can help using my stature and position as a player to help Welsh football, I'm more than happy to do that."

Davies brings 366 Spurs appearances, a Europa League title, and over a decade of elite football experience to discussions about Welsh football's future. But he's quick to acknowledge he's learning from the seasoned administrators around him while offering something they can't: a player's perspective on what actually works on the pitch.

"I've only been a player, but ultimately I'm here with a player's voice," he explained. "Having played at the highest level for a long time, I want to maintain those standards and put us in a good place going forward."

Why This Inspires

Davies isn't waiting until retirement to make a difference. While juggling a demanding professional career, he's already speaking up in council meetings and championing improvements from grassroots to professional levels.

FAW president Mike Jones noticed Davies' impact immediately. "He spoke this morning, and there are quite a lot of people who don't speak in there," Jones said. "If Ben tables some issue that we would never have found out if we didn't have him on the council, it can keep pushing us to best practice."

The timing reflects a broader modernization at the FAW, which now includes more diverse voices in its decision-making. Davies' business management degree and previous work with UEFA suggest he's building skills for a future beyond playing.

His agenda covers the entire Welsh football pyramid. "I want to see that Welsh football is giving the best opportunity to all players at every level, not just at the professional level," he said. "Throughout the Welsh leagues and down to the grassroots as well."

Davies has also earned his UEFA A Licence in coaching, keeping his options open for when his playing days end. For now, he's proving that today's players can help shape tomorrow's game while still competing at the highest level.

Wales has a captain who leads on and off the pitch.