Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has backed Michael van Praag for the UEFA presidency, telling FAZ the Dutchman would be "a modern and democratic but also a courageous president."
Bayern Munich CEO Rummenigge said Dutch FA (KNVB) president Van Praag, 69, would be an ideal medium-term solution to replace Michel Platini, who is serving a four-year ban from football.
UEFA has been without a president since Michel Platini was suspended by the FIFA ethics committee in October, and European football's governing body will elect his successor on Sept. 14.
Rummenigge, who is also chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), is backing Van Praag and said: "He'd have one advantage. He's 69, and would only do it for two-and-a-half years.
"I know Van Praag. He would not only be a modern and democratic but also a courageous president. He could tackle the issues without facing re-election. He couldn't stand for another term because of the age limit."
Van Praag, who had been among the early challengers for the FIFA presidency last year, will face competition from UEFA vice-president Angel Maria Villar of Spain as well as Slovenian FA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Rummenigge, who is calling for Champions League reform, believes Van Praag will help deliver the changes he wants to see when the governing body rules on changes to the format in December.
Former Germany international Rummenigge has called for a seeding structure to replace the open draw for the Champions League knockout stages, and also told FAZ in March that both clubs and UEFA are considering a third European competition to be placed above Champions League and Europa League.
His ideas drew criticism from the club's fans and Bundesliga officials as well as Atletico Madrid chief Angel Gil Marin, who said he feared that Rummenigge "will end up getting what he wants."