Lennart Johansson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Johansson in 2006 | |
| Honorary President of UEFA | |
| In office 26 January 2007 – 4 June 2019 | |
| President | Michel Platini Ángel María Villar (acting) Aleksander Čeferin |
| 5th President of UEFA | |
| In office 19 April 1990 – 26 January 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Jacques Georges |
| Succeeded by | Michel Platini |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nils Lennart Johansson 5 November 1929 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Died | 4 June 2019 (aged 89) |
| Children | 5 |
| Occupation | Football administrator |
Nils Lennart Johansson (5 November 1929 – 4 June 2019) was a Swedish sports official who served as the fifth and, to date, longest-serving president of UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations. He served in the position from his election at the UEFA Congress in 1990 until 2007.[1] In June 1998, he contested the FIFA presidential election against Sepp Blatter, losing by 111 votes to 80.
Johansson grew up in Åkeshov, a then newly built suburb west of Stockholm with his parents, his father Erik Hilmer Johansson (1884–1963) and mother Anna-Maria Johansson (née Pettersson 1886–1964).[2][3] As a child, he used to bike from his home to Råsunda Stadium to watch AIK matches along with his brothers.[3] He also played football for his local team Åkeshov.[3]
Johansson worked at Forbo Forshaga (now Forbo Flooring) from 1950 to 1990,[4][5] starting as an errand-boy and in the end becoming the company's CEO and chairman.[6] From 1984, he was a president of the board of Tipstjänst and Operakällaren;[4][7] he was also chairman and president of AIK between 1967 and 1980.[8] Johansson was a lifelong supporter of AIK.[9]
Between 1985 and 1990, Johansson was the president of the Swedish Football Association.[10][11] In 1990, he was voted UEFA President at the UEFA Congress in Malta.[10][12] Johansson helped found the UEFA Champions League, replacing the European Cup.[10][12] Johansson supported Sweden's bid to host UEFA Euro 1992,[11] and England's bid to host UEFA Euro 1996.[11][13] During Johansson's presidency, the UEFA headquarters were also moved from Bern to Nyon.[11]
In June 1998, Johansson contested Sepp Blatter to become FIFA President; he lost by 111 votes to 80.[14] It was alleged that Blatter's victory had been helped by bribery involving João Havelange.[15][16] After the election, Johansson accused Blatter of financial mismanagement, and voted for Issa Hayatou rather than Blatter at the 2002 FIFA presidency election.[9]
In 2007, Johansson was succeeded as UEFA president by Michel Platini.[14][12] In October 2007, he was appointed chairman of a committee for bringing bandy into the Olympic programme.[17]
In 2001, the trophy given to the winning team of Swedish league Allsvenskan was renamed after Johansson: Lennart Johanssons Pokal.[11][18] Prior to this the trophy had been named after Clarence von Rosen.[18]
Illis quorum, 12th size (22 February 2005)[19]
Great Cross of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2005)[20].gif){kind=small}
Supreme Companion of the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo[21] (29 October 2004)[22]_3class_BAR.svg){kind=small}
Commander's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (22 March 2006)[23]
Knight's Cross of the Order of the Falcon (18 November 1997)[24]
Officer of the National Order of Merit (August 2002)[25]
Third Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise[22]
First Class of the Order of Merit[21]
Third Class of the Order of Merit[22]
Second Class of the Order of Friendship (2005)[26]
Order of Friendship[21]Johansson was married twice and had five children. He was married to his first wife, Anna-Stina Eriksson (1922–2005), from 1953 to 1980, with whom he had two daughters.[28] His second marriage was with Lola Sidenvall (1929–2017). In December 2017, he became a widower after his wife Lola died.[29]
In 2008, he suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage, and after that his physical health began to fail. Johansson died on 4 June 2019, aged 89.[12]
