FIFA: "I was always going to leave in 2015" (Blatter)

"It was always the idea to stop in 2015. But we must carry out FIFA's planned reforms and be sure that my successor will ensure that football is a universal sport," said Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA in L'Equipe on 15/05/2013.

The 77 year-old from Switzerland, will complete his fourth four-year term (2011-2015) at the head of FIFA.

"I will not give up if you want to completely change FIFA so that it is led by the clubs and not by associations" added the added.

Michel Platini, the current president of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) "is my natural candidate, since we did everything together," Blatter said of his possible successor.

Blatter added that the president of the Spanish Federation, Angel Maria Villar Llona, "is another serious European contender." About his French former colleague Jerome Champagne, the FIFA president said, "he is campaigning. He worked with me for ten years, so he'd be a worthwhile choice."