By Erik Kirschbaum
BERLIN, March 17 - Franz Beckenbauer is prepared
to throw his hat into the ring in the race to become the next
UEFA president if he gets support from the German federation and
leaders within European soccer's governing body.
"First of all it has to be seen if Mr (Lennart) Johansson is
really going to retire," Beckenbauer told Thursday's Bild
newspaper. "Then if I have support from the DFB (German FA) and
UEFA, I'd be ready to seriously consider the job."
Beckenbauer, who led West Germany to World Cup victory as
captain in 1974 and coach in 1990, has long been dropping vague
hints that he would be interested in succeeding UEFA president
Lennart Johansson after he retires, as scheduled, in 2006.
But two days after former France captain and manager Michel
Platini announced his candidacy for UEFA's top job, Beckenbauer
has raised his voice a notch as the race hots up.
Bild said the DFB would move quickly in response to
Platini's announcement and formally name Beckenbauer as their
candidate on Friday.
The DFB has strongly backed the charismatic Beckenbauer, 59,
who also led Germany's winning bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
But until now Beckenbauer has only said he was "honoured" to
be among those mentioned as a candidate. German media have
reported he wants the job but does not want to campaign for it.
INCREASING PRESSURE
Beckenbauer's name has also been mentioned as a possible
successor to FIFA president Sepp Blatter but he has emphatically
and repeatedly ruled out having any designs on that job.
Theo Zwanziger, the DFB's co-president, is increasing the
pressure on Beckenbauer to announce his candidacy. He said no
one else in Germany, including himself or DFB president Gerhard
Mayer-Vorfelder, has the international stature of Beckenbauer.
"We have to stop playing tactical games and instead state
clearly what we want," Zwanziger said on Thursday. "I want
Germany to be represented in international organisations."
"And against Platini we can't send Mayer-Vorfelder, or
Zwanziger or anyone else," Zwanziger added. "There is only one
Beckenbauer. He has to be convinced."
Zwanziger said the candidacy of Platini, 49, was forcing the
issue. He said it was "irritating" that Platini had announced
his candidacy at this point.
"It's all very early," Zwanziger said. "But everyone has
their tactical reasons. I didn't want things to happen as they
have. But that's the way it is. Germany's not going to step
aside and I hope that Beckenbauer won't either."
Johansson, a Swede, has held office for 14 years and will be
76 by the time he completes his fourth term in the spring of
2006. He has said he will not seek re-election for another term.