Lennart Johansson is immortalized in Friends Square.
AIK has announced that a commemorative statue of the former soccer jersey will be unveiled in connection with the match against Häcken on October 19.
Lennart Johansson He made a huge impression in world football. For 17 years, he led UEFA as its president – no one holds that position anymore – and during his time Sweden hosted the European Championship play-offs and the Champions League was launched.
But Johansson, who died in 2019 after a terminal illness at the age of 89, is also strongly linked to AIK. Johansson was president of the club between 1967 and 1980, and since 1999 he has been the honorary president.
On October 19 this year, when AIK meets Häcken, he will be immortalized with a sculpture in his permanent place in Friends Square. The life-size statue is made of bronze and will be placed in Johansson’s place during all upcoming matches and events.
“Keeping the AIK family together has been important to Lennart Johansson. Thus, AIK Huvudförening is very proud and happy to be involved in working with the Lennart Memorial,” Cecilia Wollmann, President of AIK says to the club’s website.
The memorial statue was funded and donated to AIK by UEFA.
“When the time comes to reveal it, it will be an event of great symbolic value for Swedish and European football and an occasion that will be forever preserved in football history,” says Karl-Erik Nilsson, Chairman of the Swedish Football Association.