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European soccer boss to retire in
2007
AP
- Europe's top soccer official plans to retire when his term expires
next year.
"It is time to go fishing," Lennart Johansson, president of the Union of
European Football Associations, said Monday during an interview with The
Associated Press.
The 76-year-old Swede has been UEFA's president since taking over from
France's Jacques George in 1990.
Former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer and former French
star Michel Platini are expected to be among the candidates to succeed
Johansson in a job considered the second-most important in soccer behind
the president of FIFA, soccer's world governing body.
"They are two highly acclaimed football players. And they are no
nitwits," Johansson said during a telephone interview. "But I'd like to
avoid taking part in the discussion of who should come after me. I think
an outgoing president should leave that to others."
Johansson, serving his fourth term, said he had considered stepping down
previously but was persuaded to stay on by UEFA officials. Johansson
said his current decision was "absolute."
"One should leave before things start going down," he said. "To a large
extent, things have gone well financially and sportswise, so I think it
feels good."
Johansson first mentioned his plans to retire to Kappa magazine,
published by the Athens newspaper Kathimerini.
"It was a direct question and I gave a direct answer," he said, adding
he will make a formal announcement to UEFA's executive committee "when
the time is right."
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