Labour peer Lord Triesman is poised to become the Football Association's first independent chairman.
Tottenham fan Triesman was unanimously approved by the FA's selection panel and his nomination should be ratified by the FA Council on 16 January.
"I am confident we are capable of resuming our role as world leaders from Wembley to the sport played at every level," said Triesman.
The 64-year-old will stand down from his position as a government minister.
His selection was recommended by the FA's four-man selection panel.
That consisted of Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney, Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards and John Ward and Roger Burden, representatives of the amateur game.
606: DEBATE
Following the structural reforms carried out by the FA in wake of the Lord Burns review, Treisman will be able to vote on all matters put before the FA board, unlike previous FA chairmen.
Appointing an independent chairman will also free the FA from charges of bias.
Triesman's nomination has been met with surprise as former Manchester United chairman Sir Roy Gardner had been widely tipped for the role.
"He (Triesman) combines excellent managerial and leadership skills with a life-long passion for the game," said Mawhinney.
"Throughout his career, he has never shied away from taking strategically important decisions and has delivered strong results.
"He has an infectious enthusiasm for football at all levels in England, I believe that he will play an invaluable role in developing our game in the years ahead."
Triesman - a season ticket holder at White Hart Lane - has formidable football experience as a player, referee, coach and as patron of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
"I welcome the appointment of Lord Triesman but I was surprised not to have been given an interview"
"I am delighted and very honoured to have this remarkable opportunity to help lead change at the heart of English football at the Football Association," he said.
Triesman has had a varied career in politics as a former general secretary of the Labour party, a Foreign Office Minister in the House of Lords and latterly as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Innovation.
He is also a former student radical who was a member of the Communist Party before he rejoined the Labour Party in 1977.
Former sports minister Richard Caborn was the man who pushed through the Burns review that led to the decision for the FA to appoint an independent chairman.
He was expected to be in the running for the role himself but did not even get an interview.
Caborn said: "I welcome the appointment of Lord Triesman, someone I have known for many years, but I was surprised not to have been given an interview by the selection panel."
"Lord Triesman has an excellent track record and I'm sure he will provide the clear strategic leadership the FA needs"
Caborn is now the Prime Minister's 2018 World Cup bid ambassador.
James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said he would arrange to meet Triesman soon.
"I'm pleased the FA have appointed Lord Triesman as independent chairman. This is a very important appointment," Purnell said.
"Having a dynamic and effective governing body is essential to the success of English football from the grassroots to the England team.
"Lord Triesman has an excellent track record and I'm sure he will provide the clear strategic leadership the FA needs.
"I look forward to meeting him soon and discussing how we can work together in the future."
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