FIFA President Sepp Blatter believes Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) President Angel Maria Villar would be his natural successor.
Blatter has been at the helm of world football’s governing body since June 1998 and recent reports have indicated he may well leave the post in 2015, one year after the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
However, with Michel Platini and Villar firm favourites for the position when the 76-year-old does decide to call it a day, Swiss-born Blatter feels the latter would be an ideal candidate to take the reins.
“Villar is a person who lives by and for football and it is good for FIFA to have someone like him,” said Blatter in an interview with Marca.
“He is a good friend of mine, something that is not always the case on my Executive Committee, and he is a constant supporter of my ideas.”
Villar, 62, is a former Athletic Bilbao midfielder who represented Spain 22 times and was re-elected for a seventh term as RFEF President in February 2012.
Although Blatter will be approaching his eighties after Brazil, he does not feel that age is any obstacle to a person’s capability of holding down the Presidential role.
“I am in favour of putting a limit on the time in charge but not limiting a person’s age. Somebody of 70 years can have fresh ideas and feel young,” he stated.
