Nils Liedholm

UEFA President Michel Platini has paid fulsome tribute to Nils Liedholm, the legendary Swedish footballer and coach who has died at the age of 85.

'Extraordinary human being'
Mr Platini said: "Nils Liedholm will remain for always in the memory of the great football family as an extraordinary human being, a great footballer and an illustrious coach. On behalf of the whole of European football, I wish to convey my sincere and deepest condolences."

Minute's silence
UEFA's Honorary President Lennart Johansson – a fellow Swede – will represent Mr Platini at the funeral ceremony later this week. Liedholm was honoured with the UEFA Lifetime Achievement award in 2003. A minute's silence will be observed before tonight's UEFA Champions League game between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and AC Milan, and black armbands will be worn by the players. Tomorrow's Group F match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and AS Roma will also be preceded by a minute's silence. Liedholm played for and coached Milan, and coached Roma during his distinguished career.

Innovative coach
Tributes have continued to pour in for Liedholm, in particular from Italy. "Heaven makes room for Nils Liedholm," Milan said on their website. "Master of irony; a true, irreplaceable football champion; a winning, innovative coach. Milan, like the rest of the soccer world, bows to the figure of the great Swede."

Milan tribute
"One of the greats of Milan's history has left us," club president Silvio Berlusconi said. "He was a champion, a gentleman, a friend. I remember performances in which he didn't make a single mistake. Thank you Nils, for all you did for us." Former Brazil player Falcão, a member of the Roma team that won the 1983 Italian title under Liedholm, expressed deep sorrow. "People like him should never pass away," he said. "He was like a father to me. He knew how to love with altruism. He taught me so much. I owe him a lot."

Generosity of spirit
Ex-Italy striker Gianni Rivera, who had Liedholm as a team-mate and coach at Milan, also remembered the Swede's generosity of spirit: "I remember that he did everything to put others at ease, both the young and older members of the group. He was the first to make himself available to others to create the ideal atmosphere."