Franz Beckenbauer believes that Michel Platini should not have stood against Lennart Johansson in the forthcoming UEFA Presidential election.
“At 51 years old (Platini) is often impatient…He should allow Lennart to stay in charge until the end of another mandate, and then he can succeed him,” said Beckenbauer.
He added that he was backing incumbent Lennart Johansson as Friday’s vote in Duesseldorf nears.
Beckenbauer praised Platini as “a young challenger who was a great player”.
But the German legend also criticised the Frenchman’s campaign, for highlighting Johansson’s age, saying it was “not very clever”.
In marked contrast to his criticisms of Platini, Beckenbauer praised Johansson for the way in which he has conducted himself throughout the campaign.
“I find him very elegant and smart, not rising to the attacks and provocations against him.”
Beckenbauer also said he was not tempted to run for the position of UEFA president in the future.
“No, that’s now in the past. I don’t know what is going to happen in four or eight years time. I don’t even know if I will still be alive.”
