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Michel Platini now eyes European pinnacle off the pitch
dpa German Press Agency
Published:
Thursday January 25, 2007
Dusseldorf- Michel Platini aims to crown his achievements in European football with election to the post of UEFA president. Platini captained France to the Euro 1984 title and was voted European Footballer of the Year three times in a row 1983-1985.
Now he has the top European job off the pitch in his sights in what has become a fierce and tight battle with Lennart Johansson, the 77-year-old Swede, who has presided over UEFA since 1990.
Born on June 21, 1955, Platini started playing football early on and won his first professional contract at Nancy in 1972. He moved on to St Etienne in 1979 and then to Italian giants Juventus, where he enjoyed his most successful spell 1982-1987.
Platini won 72 caps for France 1976-1987, highlighted by the Euro title 1984 in France where he was also tournament top scorer with nine goals.
Platini then became France coach 1988-1992 before becoming an official in the sport. He was vice-president of the 1998 World Cup organizing committee, an advisor for FIFA president Joseph Blatter 1998-2002 and has been on the powerful executive board of UEFA and FIFA since 2006.
Now Platini aims for the UEFA presidency against Johansson, promising the smaller nations better representation in the European Champions League by stripping the big leagues of one berth.
He promises to spend more time at the UEFA headquarters than Johansson, and given the Swede's age of 77 also plans to set up an age limit for the presidency.
Platini has prominent backing from Blatter and the players' union Fifpro. His opponents include the big-name clubs who fear for their Champions League berths.
Platini has toured Europe extensively in the run-up to Friday's vote and is now very confident that he will be elected.
"There is something in the air. I sense an atmosphere in which people believe that I will win," he said in Dusseldorf, where the election takes place Friday.
© 2006 dpa German Press Agency
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