FIFA vice-president Angel Maria Villar was the last to declare his candidacy ©Getty Images

Football Association of Slovenia President Aleksander Čeferin, Dutch Football Association boss Michael van Praag and FIFA vice-president Angel Maria Villar are the three confirmed candidates for the UEFA Presidency ahead of tomorrow's deadline.

Villar, the current interim head of European football's governing body, has been consistently linked with a bid to become banned Frenchman Michel Platini's replacement but had not formally declared his candidacy until today.

"Angel Maria Villar has made official his candidacy for the next elections for the UEFA Presidency,” the Royal Spanish Football Association said in a statement.

The Spaniard, who is also a FIFA vice-president, is facing opposition in his home federation from Jorge Pérez, who accused him of only occupying the position as President of the organisation because of a "long-running system of patronage".

Villar is seen as a controversial figure within football governance and it is not known whether he would have enough support among UEFA's 55 members to secure the top job.

"Many leaders in European football have urged me to go forward for the UEFA presidency,” Villar said recently.

“I appreciate their support and it is a great honour for someone who represents Spanish football to represent the European game.”

Michael van Praag is also hoping to succeed Michel Platini as UEFA President ©Getty Images
Michael van Praag is also hoping to succeed Michel Platini as UEFA President ©Getty Images

Čeferin launched his campaign last month and immediately called for UEFA to implement similar reforms to scandal-hit world football governing body FIFA.

The 48-year-old lawyer claims to have the backing of 18 European nations including Russia, though Russian Football Union head Vitaly Mutko may be excluded from voting if FIFA's Ethics Committee chose to impose sanctions on the Sports Minister.

The Ethics Committee announced they will take "appropriate measures" against Mutko if his part in the state-sponsored doping scheme in Russia, revealed in damning fashion by Richard McLaren's report yesterday, is proven.

Van Praag was the first candidate to declare his intention to run and has already stated he is not looking to stay in the job for long, declaring he will stand aside once he has completed Platini's term, due to end in 2019, should he be successful with his bid for the position.

The Dutchman emerged as a surprise challenger to banned FIFA President Sepp Blatter last year before he withdrew to support Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein.

UEFA announced in May that the Presidential election will be held at its Congress in Athens on September 14.

Platini officially resigned in May after the Court of Arbitration for Sport refused to quash his suspension for a series of ethics breaches.