Lennart Johansson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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 (born November 5, 1929 – died June 4, 2019) was an important Swedish sports leader. He was the fifth and longest-serving president of UEFA. UEFA is the main organization for football in Europe. He led UEFA from 1990 until 2007. In 1998, he tried to become the president of FIFA, the world football body, but he lost the election.
Contents
His Early Life
Lennart Johansson grew up in a place called Åkeshov, a new suburb near Stockholm, Sweden. His parents were Erik Hilmer Johansson and Anna-Maria Johansson.
As a child, he loved football. He often rode his bike to Råsunda Stadium to watch matches played by the team AIK. He also played football himself for his local team, Åkeshov.
A Career in Football
Lennart Johansson worked at a company called Forbo Forshaga for 40 years, from 1950 to 1990. He started as a simple errand-boy and eventually became the company's CEO, which is like the top boss.
He was also very involved in sports. From 1967 to 1980, he was the chairman and president of his favorite football club, AIK. He was a fan of AIK his whole life.
Leading UEFA
Between 1985 and 1990, Johansson was the president of the Swedish Football Association. This meant he was in charge of football in Sweden.
In 1990, he was chosen to be the president of UEFA at a meeting in Malta. This was a very big job in European football.
One of his biggest achievements was helping to create the UEFA Champions League. This new competition replaced the older European Cup and became very popular.
During his time as president, UEFA's main office moved from Bern to Nyon. He also supported Sweden hosting the UEFA Euro 1992 tournament and England hosting UEFA Euro 1996.
The FIFA Election
In June 1998, Lennart Johansson ran for president of FIFA, the world's football organization. He was running against Sepp Blatter. Johansson lost the election.
After the election, Johansson had concerns about how the election was handled. He later voted against Blatter in the 2002 FIFA presidency election.
In 2007, Michel Platini took over from Johansson as UEFA president.
A special award in Swedish football is named after him. In 2001, the trophy given to the winning team of the Swedish league, Allsvenskan, was renamed Lennart Johanssons Pokal.
Awards and Recognition
Lennart Johansson received many awards and honors from different countries for his work.
From Sweden: The Illis quorum award (2005).
From Germany: The Great Cross of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2005).
From South Africa: The Supreme Companion of the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (2004).
From Hungary: The Commander's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2006).
From Iceland: The Knight's Cross of the Order of the Falcon (1997).
From Romania: Officer of the National Order of Merit (2002).
From Ukraine: The Third Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.
From Ukraine: The First Class of the Order of Merit.
From Ukraine: The Third Class of the Order of Merit.
From Kazakhstan: The Second Class of the Order of Friendship (2005).
From Russia: The Order of Friendship.- An award from the CAF.
- An award from the Red Cross.
.gif){kind=small}
_3class_BAR.svg){kind=small}
His Later Years
Lennart Johansson was married twice and had five children. His first wife was Anna-Stina Eriksson, and they had two daughters. Later, he married Lola Sidenvall. Lola passed away in 2017.
In 2008, his health began to decline. Lennart Johansson passed away on June 4, 2019, at the age of 89.
See also
In Spanish: Lennart Johansson para niños
