France soccer great Michel Platini was elected Uefa president Friday, defeating Swedish incumbent Lennart Johansson to become head of European soccer’s governing body.
The 51-year-old Platini won by 27 votes to 23, with two invalid votes, in a secret ballot of Uefa’s 52 federations, ousting the 77-year-old Swede after 17 years at the helm of world soccer’s biggest regional body.
”I took my time to prepare for the presidency. I am ready,” Platini told Uefa’s congress.
Platini was a three-time European player of the year who led France to the European Championship title in 1984. He helped organise the 1998 World Cup in France and has worked closely with Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who publicly endorsed him on the eve of the vote. — Sapa-AP