Sepp Blatter resigns: 5 potential candidates to replace the outgoing FIFA president

Sepp Blatter has resigned as FIFA president.
The Swiss has called time on his 17-year tenure at the helm of football's governing body, amid an ongoing crisis for FIFA.
The FBI's latest investigation into money which changed hands with regard to the 2010 FIFA World Cup seems to have been the final straw for the man who has been associated with FIFA for the last 40 years.
Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein challenged Blatter for the presidency last week, but was beaten by the current incumbent. He has already expressed his desire to stand once again for the post.
Here is all you need to know about the Jordanian, and four other candidates who could succeed Sepp Blatter...

Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein

Getty

Perhaps the most credible candidate - having stood against Blatter just last week.
Prince Ali gained enough votes to take the election to a second round of voting, but decided to pull out due to the discrepancy between the support he had received and the number of votes the Swiss had attracted.
He has been the president of the Jordan FA since 1999, vice-president of FIFA since 2011 and founded the West Asian Football Federation in 2001.
During his time in his role with FIFA, he has been noted for calling on Qatar to improve the treatment of their construction workers ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
Jordan have achieved modest success under his stewardship, failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup (although they did make the playoff) and sitting in 49th in FIFA's world rankings.
Odds: 7/4

Michel Platini

Reuters

The president of UEFA, and a high-profile voice against Blatter since the FBI's investigation into corruption in FIFA.
Platini asked Blatter to resign ahead of last week's election, and praised his decision today as 'difficult and brave', saying he made the right call to stand down.
He has been in office with Europe's governing body since January 2007, and would be a feasible replacement for the Swiss.
As a player, Platini excelled as an attacking midfielder for Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus, while also making 72 appearances for France.
Odds: 6/5

Luis Figo

Action Images via Reuters / Alex Morton

Another great as a player, Figo was due to stand against Blatter in last week's election, but pulled out just days before.
In an explosive statement, he said: "The realm of a sport which gave me everything to become what I am, and to which I now offered to give something back, is hungry for change. FIFA needs change and I feel that the change is urgent.
"This (election) process is a plebiscite for the delivery of absolute power to one man - something I refuse to go along with. I believe that what is going to happen on May 29 in Zurich is not a normal electoral act.A nd because it is not, don't count on me."
In pictures: Sepp Blatter resigns

VIEW GALLERY

Figo also called Blatter's tenure a 'dictatorship'.
He made his name on the field with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, alongside 127 appearances for Portugal.
Odds: 6/1

Senes Erzik

Stuart Franklin - FIFA

UEFA past: Erzik is currently the fourth favourite

A Turkish former UEFA vice-president, Erzik is currently fourth favourite to succeed Blatter.
He was brought on to the board of the Turkish Football Federation in 1977, before being elected president in 1989, a position he held for eight years.
He then joined UEFA, where he gained the respect of Michel Platini when the Frenchman became president in 2007. He played an integral part in Turkey's successful 2005 Champions League final bid, which was held in Istanbul.
Erzik is aged 72, which may work against him as FIFA look for a long-term figurehead.
Odds: 12/1
In pictures: 65th FIFA congress

VIEW GALLERY

Ted Howard

The deputy general secretary for CONCACAF, Howard could throw his hat into the ring to become the next FIFA president.
The American played football at university level, before he went into coaching.

ELIOT J. SCHECHTER/AFP/Getty Images

He was employed as executive director for the North American Soccer League, and also stood as director and group manager for the NBA for 10 years. He was named to the US Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
Howard briefly stood as the general secretary of CONCACAF, taking over from Chuck Blazer in 2012, before he was succeeded by Enrique Sanz de Santamaria.