Aleksander Ceferin will remain in his role as UEFA president, confirming he will stand for re-election for a fourth term. The 58-year-old Slovenian administrator, who had previously stated in February 2024 that he would not seek another mandate, has reversed his position following a request from the 55 national federations affiliated with UEFA.
Ceferin officially announced his decision to continue his leadership during a meeting held in Berlin with the presidents of the national federations. By accepting their request, he aims to extend his tenure until 2031, a move made possible by controversial amendments to UEFA’s statutes regarding presidential term limits, which were approved at the 2024 Paris Congress.
A Shift in Leadership Plans
The decision to seek re-election marks a significant U-turn for the Slovenian official, who first assumed the presidency in 2016. In explaining his change of heart, Ceferin stated: There is still important work to be done. For this reason, I have accepted their request.
His platform for the upcoming term centers on maintaining unity within European football and ensuring the organization is prepared for future generations. Ceferin expressed gratitude to the federations for their trust, noting that the decision required significant sacrifice from his family, whose support he credited as essential to his return.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi Backs Ceferin for Fourth UEFA Term
The push for Ceferin to remain in office received notable backing from influential figures within the sport. Reports indicate that Nasser Al-Khelaifi encouraged the president to run again during a meeting in Copenhagen, highlighting the broad support Ceferin maintains among top-tier club and federation representatives.
- Ceferin has served as UEFA president for approximately 10 years.
- The upcoming election will determine his fourth term.
- His stated objective remains to keep European football united and strengthen the game.
While the path for his re-election is now cleared by the recent statutory changes, the specific timeline for the upcoming vote and the final composition of the field remain the primary points of interest for the football community as the organization prepares for its next chapter.
