Ex-UEFA chief Johansson, also known as thefather
of Champions League, passed awaydue to a short illness. He was 89.
He oversaw the introduction of the Champions
League during a 17-year reign as president ofEuropean soccer’s governing body.He
ledUEFA from
1990-2007. He was succeeded by former France great Michel
Platini in a presidential election.
His career as a sports administrator began in
the 1960s. He became president of elite Swedish football club AIK, and then
head of the Swedish football federation prior to his election asUEFA chief in 1990.In
1998, he was defeated by Sepp Blatter in his bid to become head of football’s
global federation FIFA.
Under Johansson’s leadership atUEFA, the Champions League was born.
It replaced the old European Cup tournament and became the world’s most
prestigious club competition. He has also presided over the growth of the
European Football Championship, with the number of finalists doubling from
eight to 16.
