Lennart Johansson

Lennart Johansson -the Robin Hood of World FootballThe founder of the Champions League, LennartJohansson was UEFA's longest serving president, remaining honorary presidentuntil his death in 2019. In 1998, he contested the FIFA presidency, losing tothe infamous Sepp Blatter.From his working class roots, as a boy cyclingfrom his home to watch AIK at the Rasunda Stadium, he rose to become not onlyone of the most powerful men in football but also one of the most honest. In anera of big money and corruption, he believed that the beautiful game should befor everyone, and he worked tirelessly to support the less affluent players andclubs. He consistently refused to submit to bribes and is named in AndrewJennings' book The Dirty Game (2015) as one of the few powerful men infootball to be completely free from corruption. It was also he who broughtEnglish clubs back into European competitions, saying 'England needs Europe andEurope needs England.'Lennart Johansson believed in fair play andintegrity, and his empathy, honesty and enthusiasm made him a leader who left adeep mark on the history of football.This, his autobiography written with the help ofhis friend Soeren 'Sulo' Karlsson, has been translated for the first time intoEnglish, and tells his story in his words. The book includes images from Lennart Johansson's private collection. In accordance with his wishes, hisshare of the royalties will go to his beloved club, AIK.