Former Fifa deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne has launched his bid to succeed Sepp Blatter as the world governing body's president.

The Frenchman, who has been backed by Pele, announced his intentions to become football's most powerful man at a news conference in London on Monday.

"We need a different Fifa," he said. "More democratic, more respected, which behaves better and which does more."

Fifa's presidency election will be held in Zurich in June 2015.

Champagne, 55, worked closely with Blatter between 2002 and 2005 before leaving Fifa in 2010.

Since then he has been working as an international soccer consultant in troubled regions including Kosovo, Palestine and Israel and Cyprus.

Blatter, who will be 78 in March, has been president since 1998. The Swiss has not yet said whether he will stand for a fifth term of office.

Brazil legend Pele, a three-time World Cup winner, said he is supporting Champagne's campaign.

"I cannot stay away from a debate which is so important for the future of football and thus, I support Jerome Champagne and his vision," he said in a videotape message shown at the news conference.

Uefa president Michel Platini has also been discussed as a possible candidate, although the ex-France midfielder has not yet declared his intentions.