Swede Lars-Christer Olsson has resigned as UEFA chief executive after reaching a settlement with European soccer's governing body.
NYON: Swede Lars-Christer Olsson has resigned as UEFA chief executive after reaching a settlement with European soccer's governing body.
"I have just signed an agreement with UEFA to stand down," Olsson said.
"Unfortunately, I would have liked to stay on, but there was a difference of views on how we go forward under the new administration."
Olsson, 57, was a very close ally of compatriot Lennart Johansson, who was voted out of office after 17 years as UEFA president last Friday, losing the presidential election to Frenchman Michel Platini at the UEFA Congress in Duesseldorf.
Platini said in a statement: "On behalf of the European football family I... take this opportunity to thank Lars-Christer for his dedication and hard work to the game of football, both with the Swedish FA and at UEFA, and to wish him all the very best for the future."
Platini has made no secret of his intention to take a far greater role as executive president of the organisation, which made Olsson's position untenable.
"Michel Platini is a good person as an individual. This is all part of the game. Once the new regime took over, I felt it was time to go," Olsson added.
The Swede has been UEFA's highest management official since succeeding Gerhard Aigner in January 2004.
"Over the past three years he (Olsson)... achieved a great deal in a very short period, most notably the continued redistribution of income from the European Championship and the UEFA Champions League, closer links with all our member associations, and the introduction of thousands of mini-pitches across Europe," Platini said.
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