The candidate who is successful in the election, due to take place on September 14 in Athens, will automatically become a FIFA vice-president and will have a seat on the organisation’s ruling Council.

They are all bidding to replace disgraced former UEFA head Michel Platini, currently serving a four-year ban from all footballing activity.

The winner will serve out the remainder of the Frenchman’s third four-year term as President, due to expire in 2019.

A number of UEFA Member Associations, who will all have one vote in the election, have publicly declared their support for Čeferin, a 48-year-old lawyer.

The German Football Association has become the latest to back the candidacy of the Slovenian, following in the footsteps of Ireland, Hungary, Turkey and France.

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.

"I will work towards better protection and integrity of our sport by fighting against corruption and match-fixing, against doping and by ensuring a safe football environment for all participants," he told Reuters.

"I believe I can bring a new wind, new ideas and approaches which are necessary for a better role of the UEFA in further development of the European football."

Van Praag was the first candidate to declare his intention to run and has already claimed he is not looking to stay in the job for long, declaring he will stand aside once he has completed Platini's term.

His manifesto, entitled Building Bridges, focuses on areas such as connection, football development and what he calls UEFA "back to basics".

He claims UEFA has been "virtually standing still" since Platini was given his ban, along with former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter, in December of last year.

"There are a number of important issues to be dealt with which have not been addressed at all in that time," said Van Praag.

"I am utterly motivated to take European football onwards.

"And the task is urgent."

Villar, already a leading member of FIFA, has pledged "democracy" and "transparency" should he win the election.

The head of the Spanish Football Federation was fined CHF25,000 (£19,000/$25,000/€23,000) by FIFA's Ethics Committee last year for failing to cooperate with an investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid races, won by Russia and Qatar respectively.