President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Michel Platini addressed his Christmas and New Year’s greetings to all the players, coaches, referees, association members, clubs and supporters on Sunday Dec. 25.

Michel Francois Platini, born 21 June 1955, is a former French football player and manager, and the president of the Union of UEFA since 2007.

In the letter, he said 2011 also remains the year in which there were moments of exceptional football game, from the smallest one to the major one. It is difficult for him to point out which one is his most exceptional competition, but he said, “if I had to pick one, it would be the exceptional UEFA Champions League final at Wembley. It was not only a legendary match – it also reminded us why we are all here, at the service of football and the players, without whom nothing would be possible, and who make the dream possible.”

Michel Platini said that he is happy to be at the service of the 53 national associations, to continue this great and wonderful task of protecting European football and helping it to progress together for another three years.

The most important message and touching from the greeting is he emphasized that 2011 is the year of some UEFA’s national associations have had to take courageous decisions to preserve the justice and integrity of our sport, 2011 is also the year they have had to remain solid and defend our values, to guarantee the respecting of the rules and the equity of the competitions and to prevent football becoming a hostage of a few for their own profit and interests.

Michel Platini wishes that 2012 will be a marvelous and an essential year for European football, because of the EURO final round will be held in Poland and Ukraine. Thousands and thousands of people will gather together to see years’ effort of all the UEFA staffs, players, coaches, referees… which promises to be unique.

He also wishes that 2012 will be also a year for them to enter a new era in club football, thanks to financial fair play, which is supported and carried forward by everyone, and which is a symbol of their unity and capacity to assume their responsibilities together when it comes to preserving football.