Lennart Johansson's 85th birthday
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
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UEFA and the European football family join together to wish many happy returns to the former UEFA President, and current Honorary UEFA President, Lennart Johansson.
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UEFA's Honorary President Lennart Johansson celebrates his 85th birthday today.
Mr Johansson was born on 5 November 1929 in Bromma, a suburb of the Swedish capital Stockholm, and has been a lover of football all his life, remaining staunchly loyal to his hometown club AIK Solna. He served as Swedish Football Association (SvFF) president between 1984 and 1991, and was elected as UEFA's fifth president at the Malta Congress in 1990, succeeding Frenchman Jacques Georges.
Lennart Johansson was UEFA's President for a momentous 17 years, during which the European game underwent far-reaching sporting and commercial changes. UEFA developed from an administrative body to a modern business enterprise, establishing its headquarters at Nyon in western Switzerland; the UEFA Champions League was born, and the UEFA European Championship grew in stature during his presidency. Mr Johansson was named Honorary UEFA President by his successor Michel Platini at UEFA's Congress in Dusseldorf in January 2007.
UEFA and the European football family would like to take this opportunity to wish Lennart Johansson many happy returns on his special day.