Florence Hardouin, the general manager of the French Football Federation, has been elected the UEFA Executive Committee’s first female member ©Getty Images

Florence Hardouin, general manager of the French Football Federation (FFF), has been elected the UEFA Executive Committee’s first female member in a landmark vote at European football’s governing body’s Congress in Budapest.

The Frenchwomen beat Norway’s Karen Espelund, who had served on the Executive Committee in a co-opted capacity since 2011, by 33 votes to 21. 

She will serve a three-year mandate until executive elections in 2019.

"I'm proud and delighted," the 49-year-old Hardouin said.

"It's a great honour for myself, for France and for the French Federation.

"A lot of challenges lie ahead, and I hope to bring to UEFA the experiences that we are gathering with the organisation of UEFA Euro 2016.

"I also hope to contribute to continuing the development of women's football."

UEFA's Executive Committee received a positive update on Euro 2016 preparations ©Getty Images
UEFA's Executive Committee received a positive update on Euro 2016 preparations ©Getty Images

In October of last year, Hardouin told insidethegames that France is aiming to capitalise on Euro 2016 to boost the number of grass-roots football club members from 2.2 million to 2.5-2.6 million within around two years - a increase of approximately 15 per cent.

The Federation, she said, had a budget of €37 million (£29 million/$42 million) at its disposal to help cement this legacy.

Spending would be focused on three areas: modernising infrastructure at France’s 15,000 clubs; training programmes for the country’s 100,000 coaches; and supply of basic equipment such as jerseys and balls.

UEFA's Executive Committee is said to have received a positive update on Euro 2016 preparations and according to a statement, "expressed its confidence in the measures put in place to stage a safe and festive tournament for all involved".