Aleksander Čeferin was today elected the new President of UEFA ©Getty Images

Slovenia's Aleksander Čeferin was today elected the new President of UEFA to replace the disgraced Michel Platini.

The 48-year-old lawyer beat his only challenger, Dutchman Michael van Praag, at the Extraordinary UEFA Congress in Athens by 42 votes to 13. 

Čeferin will now complete the remaining three year term of Platini, who is currently serving a four-year ban for breaching FIFA’s Code of Ethics.

Čeferin's election means he automatically becomes a vice-president of world governing body FIFA. 

“It’s a great honour but at the same time a great responsibility," Čeferin, President of the Football Association of Slovenia since 2011, told delegates after the election.

"It means a lot to me and my family will be very proud as will my small and beautiful Slovenia. 

"I hope one day you will be proud of me too.”

Van Praag, 68, put a brave face on after his crushing defeat. 

“Losing is not nice,” he said. 

"Aleksander and I are not enemies. 

"We have the same goal, we want a different and better UEFA. 

Michael van Praag suffered a heavy defeat ©Getty Images
Michael van Praag suffered a heavy defeat ©Getty Images

He wants to do it his way and I wanted to do it mine but democracy has spoken and I respect that.”

Čeferin launched his manifesto in June and has vowed to fight against all corruption in the sport after the scandals which rocked world football’s governing body, leading to the arrests and indictments of several officials.

In his address before voting started, Čeferin dismissed claims he was too young for the top job in European football.

"Too young and inexperienced?," he said.

"Well, I’m almost 50 and have been chairing my own company and the Football Association of Slovenia for years now.

“You can say I am young and inexperienced but I think that’s a disrespect to all the Presidents of small and medium-sized Federations who, 365 days of the year, have to do more with less. 

"Presidents of these Federations have to be creative, strong and inspiring and, believe me, we have experience.

"I’m here to find ways to tackle all the problems that surround our game as someone with a new and clear vision but who is bold and brave enough to open a new chapter in the history of this amazing organisation.

"Today the wind of change is blowing through European football. 

"It’s the end of one era and start of a new one – an era which marks the end of some privileges from another time."