NANCY, France, Jan 24 - Michel Platini is planning a long holiday if he does not become president of UEFA on Friday, according to the former France captain's father, Aldo.

"If he fails, he says he will go on holiday with a one-way ticket, no return," Platini's 79-year-old father told Reuters in an interview.

"I'm not quite sure what that means."

Platini, who led France to victory in the 1984 European Championship, is standing against the incumbent Lennart Johansson, 77, in a two-horse race which will be decided by a vote at the UEFA Congress in Duesseldorf, Germany.

"I'm feeling more pressure than him, he's very relaxed," said Aldo, who was a sports director at Nancy, the club in eastern France his son graced before leaving in 1979 for St Etienne, then Juventus.

"I would really love him to succeed. If the son I brought up was to become UEFA president, that would make myself and my wife really proud.

"I wouldn't have imagined he would go that far. He has succeeded in many ways. He coached France. He organised the World Cup (in 1998 in France). He has worked a lot to get to where he is now."

BEST CANDIDATE

For Aldo, obviously, Michel is the best candidate.

"He comes from football. He's only (nearly) 52 while Johansson is 77. Michel wants to change things, to move them on."

Platini's father said his son had changed dramatically since the days when he was a gifted but temperamental player.

"He has matured, has much more self-control. Michel the player and Michel today are two totally different characters.

"He has received help from a lot of friends and from people who were very good in different areas."

Aldo Platini will travel to Germany to be near his son for the election.

"Success for Michel would be a logical outcome when you look at his career. He has done his homework well but it will be tight."