Madrid  - Angel Maria Villar was, as expected, re-elected as president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Monday for another four-year term.

Villar, 58, has reigned for two decades since 1988, one of the longest in world football.

He obtained 144 votes on Monday, with three votes being declared null and 18 left blank.

In his acceptance speech, he said he was "very grateful for the continued confidence in me," and promised "four more years of dedication and hard work."

Villar's re-election was no surprise, given that he was the only candidate in the elections.

No one else bothered to put himself forward, so predictable was another Villar triumph. Four years ago, former RFEF secretary Gerardo Gonzalez stood against Villar and was well beaten.

Villar, 58, became RFEF president in 1988 and was re-elected unopposed in 1992, 1996, 2000 - and now again in 2008.

He said on Monday that one of his objectives was to win for Spain the right to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, or Euro 2016.

Villar is a vice-president of both FIFA and UEFA, and may be a future candidate for the FIFA top job.

Spain finally claimed a major title again this year by winning Euro 2008, but the nation has not hosted a major football tournament since the 1982 World Cup, for which Villar has been criticized.

In 1998 the Portuguese federation suggested a joint Portuguese- Spanish bid for Euro 2004. Villar insisted that Spain lodged a separate individual bid which lost to Portugal.

Villar was seen as a force for change when first elected president in 1988, being the first former player to lead the RFEF.

Born in Bilbao in 1950, Villar was an attacking midfielder for Athletic Bilbao from 1971 to 1981, helping the "Lions" to win the 1973 cup.

He won 22 caps for Spain and scored three international goals.

While playing for Bilbao and Spain he studied law, graduating from the prestigious Basque Universidad de Deusto in 1979.

In 1978 Villar was one of the founders of the Spanish players' association, which made him popular among his former colleagues.

The idea that he stand as candidate for the RFEF presidency in 1988 originally came from the players' association.

There have been several minor cases of corruption at the RFEF during Villar's reign, but he has skilfully managed to avoid being implicated in them. (dpa)