Blatter says he believes the fight for the presidency will be between Michel Platini, the former France captain and organiser of the France 1998 World Cup, and Franz Beckenbauer, the former Germany captain and manager, who is heading the local organising committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Current UEFA president Lennart Johansson was re-elected for another four year term in 2002, but he is almost certain to stand down and let a new figure take over the role he has held since 1990.
Both Beckenbauer and Platini have long been linked with top jobs in soccer’s administration – with Platini long believed to be a future FIFA boss.
Said Blatter: “Beckenbauer’s role as head of the World Cup organising committee ends in 2006. I think he could do the job of UEFA president, although Michel Platini has designs on it too.”
Beckenbauer said he had not considered the UEFA job – nor did he rule out any future election bid.
Speaking in the German media, he said: "It is flattering when the FIFA president throws my hat into he ring for such a post. But I am just focused on the 2006 World Cup in Germany. After that I am not thinking about anything else."
