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Lennart Johansson

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.

Early life

Johansson grew up in Åkeshov [sv], 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]

Career

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]

Awards and honours

Tribute to Johansson at Friends Arena in June 2019

Personal life

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]

Notes

  1. ^ See closer look of the unidentified Red Cross medal here.

References

  1. ^ "Sweden's former Uefa president Lennart Johansson dies aged 89". The Local. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  2. ^ "En gigant som även såg värdet i det lilla". Fotbollskanalen. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Så förändrade Lennart Johansson fotbollen". Dagens Nyheter. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Lennart Johansson – IK Sirius". siriusuppsala.se. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Så förändrade Lennart Johansson fotbollen". Dagens Nyheter. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  6. ^ "MATS OLSSON: Odödligare än så blir ingen". Expressen. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Lennart Johansson: "Tar AIK guld lever jag ett par år till …"". Aftonbladet. 11 November 2018. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  8. ^ AIK Ordförande – historia aik.se Retrieved 5 June 2019 Archived 22 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ a b "Lennart Johansson, architect of the Champions League, dies aged 89". Stuff.co.nz. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  10. ^ a b c "Champions League architect Lennart Johansson dies at 89". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e Morgan, Tom (5 June 2019). "Champions League founder Lennart Johansson dies, aged 89". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d "Champions League pioneer and ex-Uefa president Lennart Johansson dies". BBC.co.uk. BBC. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  13. ^ Ziegler, Martin (5 June 2019). "Death of Lennart Johansson a reminder of FA's role in Fifa's darkest days". The Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  14. ^ a b Strandman/TT, Pelle (5 June 2019). "Blatter om Johansson: "Var alltid fair play"". www.helagotland.se. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  15. ^ ""Köpte röster åt Blatter 1998"". SVT Sport. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  16. ^ Ziegler, Martin (3 June 2017). "Lennart Johansson interview: we saw Blatter buy votes. I'm glad they were all found out". The Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Lennart Johansson satsar på bandy" (in Swedish). SVT Sport. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  18. ^ a b Thorén, Petra. "SM-pokalen ska skrotas". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  19. ^ "Lennart Johansson tilldelas Illis quorum" [Lennart Johansson is awarded Illis quorum] (Press release) (in Swedish). Prime Minister's Office. 21 February 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021 – via Mynewsdesk.
  20. ^ "BUNDESVERDIENSTKREUZ FÜR LENNART JOHANSSON" (in German). German Football Association. 11 March 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  21. ^ a b c Chaplin, Mark (15 August 2005). "No medal fatigue for Johansson". UEFA. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d "LENNART JOHANSSON, Ordnar och utmärkelser" (in Swedish). Bukowskis. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Lennart Johansson (L), President of the UEFA gestures..." Alamy. 22 March 2006. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  24. ^ "ORÐUHAFASKRÁ" (in Icelandic). President of Iceland. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  25. ^ "Romanian HQ opens for business". UEFA. 22 August 2002. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  26. ^ Kamashev, Timur (2 June 2005). "Ordabasy raise eyebrows". UEFA. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  27. ^ Darby, Paul (2001). Africa, football and FIFA: politics, colonialism and resistance. Sport in the global society. London: Frank Cass. p. 137. ISBN 0-7146-4968-6. SELIBR 5500820. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  28. ^ Sveriges befolkning 1960. Arkiv Digital
  29. ^ "Lennart Johanssons sorg efter hustruns död: "Tragik"" (in Swedish). Expressen. 21 April 2018. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
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