Michael van Praag | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Van Praag in 1989 | |
| Vice President ofUEFA | |
| In office 30 June 2015 – 10 december 2019 | |
| President | Michel Platini(2015) Ángel María Villar(Acting, 2015–2016) Aleksander Čeferin(2016–2021) |
| Preceded by | David Gill |
| Succeeded by | Karl-Erik Nilsson |
| Chairman of theUEFA Stadium and Security Committee | |
| Assumed office 30 June 2015 | |
| President of the Royal Dutch Football Association | |
| In office 27 August 2008 – December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jeu Sprengers |
| Succeeded by | Just Spee |
| Chairman of Ajax | |
| In office 17 January 1989 – 1 July 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Ton Harmsen |
| Succeeded by | John Jaakke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael van Praag (1947-09-28)28 September 1947 (age 78) Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Spouse | Yvonne Mackaay(m. 2000) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Residence(s) | Aerdenhout, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Footballadministrator Businessman Corporate director |
Michael van Praag (born 28 September 1947) is a Dutchfootballadministrator and formerreferee. He was thePresident of the Royal Dutch Football Association from 27 August 2008 to December 2019 and aVice President of the UEFA since 30 June 2015. Van Praag previously served asChairman of Ajax from 1989 until 2003.[1][2]
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Van Praag was born inAmsterdam. He was Chairman ofAjax from 1989 until mid-2003. His father,Jaap van Praag, was also Chairman of the Amsterdam club from 1964 until 1978. Originally, Van Praag was areferee in theAmateur football leagues of the Netherlands and he later made his fortune with his franchise electronic stores that were situated in various airports before he became the chairman of the club.[3]
The period in which Van Praag was Chairman of the club was one of the most successful in the club's history, second only to the tenure served by his father. Ajax won theUEFA Cup in 1992, and theUEFA Champions League and theIntercontinental Cup titles in 1995 under Van Praag's administration. On 27 August 2008, he was chosen as the new chairman of the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) succeeding the previous chairmanJeu Sprengers who had died in April. His predecessor during his tenure at Ajax was Ton Harmsen and he was succeeded by John Jaakke.
Van Praag is a member of theExecutive Committee ofUEFA, the Chairman of the association's Club Competitions Committee and is a Deputy Chairman of the HatTrick Committee.[4][5] He and his father are the only father and son chairmen combination to have both led their club to continental success with Ajax winning a combined four European championships under their guidance.
On 26 January 2015, Van Praag announced his intention to run against incumbentSepp Blatter in the 2015FIFA presidential election. Van Praag stated: "I am very worried about the deteriorating situation at FIFA. The public opinion, the trustworthiness, is very bad, and with me a lot of people in the world believe so."[6] He was seen as a consensus and reliable candidate, supporting a limitation of the powers attributed to the FIFA President. He campaigned on the publication of theGarcia Report and a new Executive Committee vote if the 2022 World Cup attribution corruption allegations were to be proved. He also advocated for less bureaucracy in Zurich and a regulation of workers' conditions in football stadiums. He stated he would not seek reelection if elected.
On 21 May 2015, just a few days before the elections, he announced his withdrawal fromFIFA presidential race to supportAli bin Hussein, stating he believed he had the best shot at the presidency. CandidateLuís Figo did the same.[7] Blatter was however reelected, although he had to resign four days after the election because of corruption allegations.
Later that year, he became Vice President of the UEFA, named by PresidentMichel Platini. On 14 September 2016, Van Praag received 13 votes in the election of the vacant office of UEFA President, losing toAleksander Čeferin who got 42 votes.
Michael van Praag comes from a prominent family in the Netherlands of entertainers and business people. Unlike his father, he is not officially Jewish since his mother was not. He has three sisters; Peggy, Pamela and TV Host and ActorBeryl van Praag [nl].[8] The famous singerMax van Praag [nl] is his uncle whose children, formernewsreaderMarga van Praag and her brotherChiel van Praag [nl] are his cousins.[9]
Media related toMichael van Praag at Wikimedia Commons| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ton Harmsen | Chairman of Ajax 1989–2003 | Succeeded by John Jaakke |
| Preceded by | President of the Royal Dutch Football Association 2008–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Vice President of UEFA 2015–present | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
