The Scot, who was hounded out of Soho Square in October after a power struggle with Premier League chairmen, will take over from John Roberts, who is to retiring as chief executive for the postal service.

Crozier brought wholesale reform to the FA and was instrumental in the appointment of England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, but a perceived autocratic style of management made him unpopular with some of football's leading figures.

Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton said Crozier's modernising touch was a 'very powerful cocktail' which he believes would restore the service to being the best in the world.