BERLIN - Franz Beckenbauer on Saturday confirmed his interest in standing for the 2006 UEFA presidency.
"It's clear that I'm interested. It's a task and challenge that is attractive," Beckenbauer, head of the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, told German television channel ZDF.
Germany's 1974 World Cup winner said however that he would not offer his candidacy if the current president, Swede Lennart Johansson went for a second mandate.
"Let's wait to see what Lennart will do and when the election will take place," he said.
Johansson is set to announce during UEFA's next meeting in Estonia if he will stand again. The congress will also decide if the election of the president will take place in 2006 or 2007.
If the vote were to be in 2006, Beckenbauer's candidacy would seem unlikely given his role in the World Cup in the same year.
France's 1984 European championship hero Michel Platini is Beckenbauer's main rival for the UEFA presidency.
Platini, 10 years younger than the 59-year-old Beckenbauer, hopes his UEFA connections - he is already a member of the executive panel - can help him replace Johansson.
Platini said only a few days ago that Beckenbauer would have been better going for the post a decade ago.
"Beckenbauer is occupied with the World Cup until 2006 and after that he can do what he likes," Platini told magazine SportBild.
"But it would be a shame if he decided to run in the same year I am standing. He could have put himself forward for the post ten years ago."
Beckenbauer has long been touted as the next UEFA president and FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already backed the German for the post.
03/26/2005 20:09 GMT