Platini looking to emulate Rimet and Delauney

PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) Michel Platini's place alongside the greatest players in soccer's history is assured and now he has his eyes on another prize.

His next target is to add his name to those of great French administrators of the past like Jules Rimet and Henri Delauney by being elected on Friday to one of the highest offices in the world game -- the presidency of UEFA.

Rimet, the president of FIFA from 1921-1954, gave the sport the World Cup. Delauney, a visionary administrator and UEFA's first general secretary, gave soccer the European Championship.

Platini gave the game wonderful moments to cherish as a player and his perceptive views on the game could ultimately have considerable impact on the future.

Platini, 51, the former France captain and coach, who experienced almost everything on the pitch, faces 77-year-old incumbent Lennart Johansson.

He is looking to return the president's office into French hands for the first time since Johansson succeeded Jacques Georges in 1990.

Friday's vote, coming after a relatively polite and gentlemanly campaign, is expected to be close. There have been few personal jibes, although Johansson has hinted that Platini may lack some experience to serve.

DRIVING FORCE But Platini, the son of an Italian immigrant, was the driving force and co-organiser of the successful 1998 World Cup in France.

His administrative career began in 1988, the year after he retired as a player, when he became a member of the UEFA technical development committee.

The three-times European Player of the Year has been a member of the UEFA executive committee and member of the FIFA executive committee since 2002.

A personal adviser of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Platini is also chairman of the FIFA technical and development committee, and is a vice-president of the French Federation.

A natural-born winner, Platini was destined to run for Johansson's chair.

A close relation told Reuters: ''He always sees ahead of you, he is as cunning as a fox.

''At the 1976 Olympics, he won almost every anticipation test and despite his build, was in almost all the sprint exercise finals because he was so fast out of the starting blocks.'' Platini played for France at the Games, scoring three goals in the tournament.

EXCELLENT CONTACTS In the race for the top at UEFA, the Frenchman has been building excellent contacts with the associations' presidents.

''Michel subjugates you in a positive way,'' one of his associates told Reuters.

Blatter was one of those who embraced Platini.

''As a FIFA president I have nothing to say about this UEFA election, but if you ask me about my personal feelings I don't have to hide them,'' Blatter told a news conference in Moscow where both were attending a tournament on Saturday.

''I have a clear sympathy to a man who has accompanied me for 8-1/2 years as FIFA president in most of my business travel,'' said Blatter, calling Platini ''my friend''.

Platini has many friends and admirers in football and in winning the election he would break new ground by becoming the first world-class player to hold high office.

Whether he has enough friends among the voting 52 national presidents will soon be known.

Reuters PM GC0928