Joining FV in 2018 after serving in a similar role at Perth Glory, Filopoulos placed high importance on facilities funding during his tenure, which was capped on Saturday with the announcement of more than $4.9 million in grants to 13 projects through the World Game Facilities Fund.

The first full-time CEO in South Melbourne's history, he has also held senior roles at Swimming Australia, Etihad Stadium, North Melbourne, and Hawthorn, and was part of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games 2000.

Previously a candidate for its CEO role before it went to James Johnson, he is set to take up his new position at the FFA from the beginning of September, where he will, amongst other responsibilities, be entrusted with driving the federation’s push to establish a new communications strategy and reset the footballing narrative. 

“Peter will bring an outstanding set of skills, experience, football knowledge and acumen to FFA,” Johnson said.

“He was the stand-out candidate during an extensive recruitment process. Peter is the ideal person to help us take control of and reset the Australian football narrative, and create a strong and unified voice for football, as outlined in the XI Principles.

“His 25 years’ experience covers leadership roles across a number of sports, but most importantly, Peter has excelled at every level of football, from his time at Football Victoria, Perth Glory and South Melbourne in the National Soccer League.

“He will join the FFA Senior Management Team and lead the development and execution of FFA’s Marketing, Public Relations, Digital Content and Media strategies. 

“We want to tell Australian football’s story in all its diversity, and part of Peter’s responsibilities, as envisioned within the XI Principles, will be to develop a comprehensive Communications Strategy for FFA, on behalf of the whole football community.” 

Filopoulos said he was excited by the challenges that awaited him at the FFA. 

“I owe a debt of gratitude to Kimon (Taliadoros) and the [FV] Board for the vision and backing they have demonstrated in my time with FV and, of course, to the clubs and everyone across the game who has embraced what we’ve set out to do.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the team at FFA and supporting James in bringing to life the vision and strategic priorities he and the Board have laid out.”

Already the federation’s President, Taliadoros is set to serve as FV’s interim-CEO while a search for a permanent replacement can be found and an operational committee has been formed to consolidate governance and decision-making structures during the period.

“Peter is one of the most talented sports administrators in football and it speaks volumes that FFA has chosen to make him part of the team at a time of unprecedented change and opportunity for our game”, Taliadoros said.

“Peter’s role with FFA ensures that our best talent remains in football. He departs with our best wishes and we are confident he will continue to bring tremendous value to our beautiful game.”

The task ahead of Taliadoros and his team, as well as the incoming CEO  at St Kilda Rd, is a daunting one, with the federation at a critical juncture.

Unlike the rest of the country, where grassroots football was able to return in some capacity following its initial shut-down, a second wave of COVID-19 infections and subsequent lockdown of the state meant that FV’s plans for a return to play in July were scuppered - leaving the federation and its grassroots clubs in limbo. 

In a letter to the footballing community in early August, FV vowed to stage football in some capacity in the state in 2020 should it be safe to do so, but how that would operate – or if clubs would be willing to take part – remains unclear.