UEFA announced on Wednesday morning that longtime president of the organization Lennart Johansson has passed away.
The 89-year-old Swede had been suffering from a serious illness for a long time, which eventually took the life of the man who had greatly contributed to football.
"L.Johansson was our football pride. No one had such influence in football. No Swede could compare to him," said Carl-Erik Nilsson, president of the Swedish Football Association.
The football "guru" held the position of UEFA president for 17 years - from 1990 to 2007. He was succeeded by Frenchman Michel Platini in 2007.
Football pundits claim that it was L.Johansson who initiated the creation of the Champions League.
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