Platini officially named as UEFA presidency candidate

PARIS, July 24 (Reuters) Former France captain and coach Michel Platini has confirmed he will run for president of UEFA, European soccer's ruling body.

Platini, 51, had previously signalled his intent to stand 18 months ago and now French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes has written to UEFA to officially present him as a candidate, the FFF said in a statement today.

Platini is a member of both the UEFA and FIFA executive committees.

Swede Lennart Johansson, 76, said earlier this month he would be seeking re-election as president to the post he has held since 1990.

The election will take place during the ruling body's congress in Dusseldorf, Germany on January 25-26 next year.

Platini is the only other man to have officially declared as a candidate for the next four-year term.

Former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer, who presided over the German World Cup organising committee, said last month he would only be interested in standing for election if Johansson retired.

REUTERS AY RK2118