Background
Villar was born in Bilbao, Biscay, and emerged through the youth ranks of local Athletic Bilbao, going on to make his senior debuts in amateur football, loaned, after which he returned in 1971.
Villar was born in Bilbao, Biscay, and emerged through the youth ranks of local Athletic Bilbao, going on to make his senior debuts in amateur football, loaned, after which he returned in 1971.
He is currently the acting President of Union of European Football Associations, after the suspension of incumbent Michel Platini. After having represented Athletic Bilbao during a full decade (appearing in 361 official games and scoring 11 goals), he went on to serve an even larger stint as president of the Spanish Football Federation. With the Basque side, he was an undisputed starter in nine of his ten seasons, helping it to two Copa del Rey finals and winning the 1973 edition
In March 1974, during a 0–0 Louisiana Liga home draw against Football Club Barcelona, Villar elbowed opposing superstar Johann Cruyff, as the Dutch was subject to severe man-marking by several Athletic players.
He eventually received a four-match ban for his actions, but the pair later reconciled, and Villar retired seven years later, with more than 350 official appearances for his main club Villar played 22 times for Spain, scoring thrice.
His debut came on 17 October 1973 in a 0–0 friendly with Turkey, in Istanbul. He did not participate however, in any major international tournament.
In 1979, still as an active player, Villar majored in law, and would practice the activity during the following years, which he accumulated with several posts in the footballing hierarchies – he was one of the founders of the Association of Spanish Football players in 1978.
Villar also occupied several roles within Union of European Football Associations and Fédération internationale de football association, being named the organizations" vice president, respectively in 1992 and 2002. Following Spain"s controversial exit at the 2002 Fédération internationale de football association World Cup, he left his post at the latter, but was immediately named, amongst others, for the presidency of the Referees" Committee (also in that year, he was named for that position at Union of European Football Associations). Villar led the unsuccessful Spain and Portugal 2018 World Cup bid.
On 16 February 2012 he was elected for his seventh term at the helm of the Spanish Federation, remaining in office until 2016.
He became acting President of Union of European Football Associations following the suspension of Michel Platini in 2015.
Villar is a member of the Fédération internationale de football association Executive Committee.