By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
France soccer great Michel Platini was elected UEFA president Friday, defeating Swedish incumbent Lennart Johansson to become head of European soccer's governing body.
The 51-year-old Platini won by 27-23, with two invalid votes, in a secret ballot of UEFA's 52 federations, ousting the 77-year-old Swede after 17 years at the helm of world soccer's biggest regional body.
"I took my time to prepare for the presidency. I am ready," Platini told UEFA's Congress.