Danny Jordaan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Danny Jordaan (1951– ) is a South African sports administrator as well as a former lecturer, politician and anti-apartheid activist. He is best known for leading South Africa’s successful Football World Cup 2010 bid.

Born in Port Elizabeth, a city on the southeast coast of South Africa, Jordaan got involved in anti-apartheid activities by joining the South African Students' Organisation (SASO) in the early 1970s. This organisation was founded by Steve Biko in order to defend the rights of black students. Later, Jordaan also became a member of the United Democratic Front and the African National Congress (ANC).

Following his studies, Jordaan became a teacher in 1974. From 1970 to 1983 he was a provincial cricket and football player. In the latter sport, he achieved professional status for a brief period. His political and sport interests soon combined and he became an activist in various organisations fighting to break down racial barriers in sport.

From 1983 to 1992 he served as the president or vice-president of various soccer boards. In 1993 he was appointed as a director of the Cape Town Olympic Bid Company.

His political career also progressed; in 1990 he was elected as the chairperson of the ANC branch in Port Elizabeth North. After the first fully inclusive South African elections in 1994, he became a member of parliament for the ANC, a position he held until 1997.

In 1997, he was elected as the chief executive officer of the South African Football Association (SAFA). He subsequently headed South Africa's unsuccessful Football World Cup 2006 bid, gaining great respect internationally for his work. As a consequence, he also led South Africa’s Football World Cup 2010 bid, this time successfully.

Jordaan has served on the marketing and television board of FIFA since 1998. He received a special presidential award from President Nelson Mandela in 1994 as well as the presidential sport achievement award from President Thabo Mbeki in 2001. He won South Africa’s marketing person of the year award in 2000.

Jordaan has a BA Honours degree from the University of South Africa.

In 2004, he was voted 44th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.