José Luis Meiszner, whose name was also borne for a time by the stadium of Club Atlético Quilmes, was born in Argentina and is a former sports executive who served as Secretary General of the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino and of the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol. He also presided over the club known as El Cervecero for more than 25 years and became a figure of considerable influence through his close relationship with Julio Grondona, former president of the AFA.
Meiszner, a lawyer by training, acted as Grondona’s executive secretary during his presidency at the AFA, a position from which he accumulated substantial sporting and political power. After several years, Quilmes’ stadium was renamed “Centenario” once again, leaving aside the former tribute to the executive. The former president of Quilmes was also the figure who took charge of the Copa América 2011, held in Argentina.
At present, the sports executive is barred from holding positions within organized sport, and his figure continues to generate divided opinions within the Quilmes environment. “Quilmes is poorly assembled,” he stated a few months ago in a radio interview.
Despite being outside the sporting scene, Meiszner was a man who wielded enormous influence in decision-making within the AFA. In addition to being Grondona’s right-hand man and a loyal lieutenant, as Secretary General of the AFA he decided to terminate the contract with Grupo Clarín and to establish, together with political figures, the national program Fútbol Para Todos, a government initiative that televised football content.
In 2009, a nationwide and governmental conflict erupted around Argentine football. Facing an institutional and economic crisis among Argentine clubs, the AFA decided to break the broadcasting contract with Grupo Clarín and to commit to a state-founded and government-run program. From the 2009–2010 season onward, Argentine football came under Fútbol Para Todos, which took over match broadcasting through Channel 7, the state channel, and other outlets. Meiszner was a key figure in that negotiation due to his role as Secretary General of the AFA and his alignment with Grondona.
The former president of Quilmes was one of the representatives of the country’s top football authority who ended the contract with Grupo Clarín and supported Fútbol Para Todos.
Grondona, who passed away several years ago, was the longest-serving president in the history of the AFA. The former president of Arsenal also served as a FIFA vice president and accumulated significant power at both national and international levels. José Luis Meiszner, as Secretary General, adopted a position favorable to Grondona and became an important ally.
Many sports media outlets and articles claimed that Meiszner was part of Grondona’s inner circle and a man of total confidence for “Don Julio.” Even in the 2015 elections, when Grondona had already died, AFA circles reportedly gave their approval to the candidacy of the former Quilmes president, a position that ultimately went to Claudio Tapia, the current AFA president.
In 2011, while serving as Secretary General of the AFA, Meiszner was appointed to the same position at CONMEBOL. This move represented a significant reinforcement of his power on the regional football scene. With all these positions at his disposal, the sports executive adopted a strategic and influential role within the offices of the AFA and CONMEBOL, establishing networks of power with clubs and associates.
Regarding Quilmes, he stated, “I see it closer than at other times. I see approaches, I see conversations without bad intentions; people need to get to know each other,” referring to the club’s political and institutional context. He also suggested that the squad remains “poorly assembled.”
In the same radio interview, he said that he had been a Quilmes executive for many years and that during some of them he had endured threats and violence from civilians. In that conversation he mentioned Alberto J. Armando, former president of Boca Juniors, and stated that Armando gave him advice that helped him manage the club in an orderly manner.
José Luis Meiszner was a key figure in the AFA and CONMEBOL. He served as Secretary General in both organizations and became Julio Grondona’s right-hand man during his time at the helm of Argentine football. He was in charge of the Copa América 2011 and presided over Quilmes for many years, to the point that the stadium once carried his personal name. After various conflicts and external cases, he stepped away from the sporting scene but remains linked to El Cervecero.
