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Paris - New FIFA leader Gianni Infantino was hailed for being "not a politician, not a superstar" and a reform-minded administrator who can lead the scandal-plagued football body into a brave new world.
The 45-year-old multilingual Swiss-Italian lawyer was elected as the new FIFA president on Friday, ending Sepp Blatter's controversial, rollercoaster 18 years in charge.
"He's not a politician. He's not a superstar. He's just very together, very organised," said Greg Dyke, chairman of England's Football Association.
"He has run UEFA really well and he'll be great as the president of FIFA.
"I think we can be more optimistic about the future of FIFA now than we could have been certainly a week ago, after a terrible year. It's been a corrupted organisation for a long time and now I think this is some hope for the future."
Infantino had served for seven years as general secretary of UEFA where he was Michel Platini's right-hand man.
But with Platini serving a six-year ban, Infantino entered the race and sensationally snatched the job so coveted by the Frenchman.
Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko, whose country controversially won the right to stage the 2018 World Cup, also said Infantino was the right man for the job.
"I am satisfied. We have supported him from the start," Mutko told TASS news agency.
"I hope that everything he has planned will be realised. Football needs a pragmatic and experienced man like him."
Wolfgang Niersbach, who last year stood down as president of the German football association after a scandal engulfed Germany's successful 2006 World Cup bid, said Infantino was the "best candidate" but a tough road lay ahead.
"It's a great day for FIFA, perhaps even historic which will decide the future," said Niersbach.
"But the job isn't finished. I have belief that Gianni will restore confidence in FIFA."
Francois Carrard, who headed FIFA's independent reform committee, said Infantino represented the "best possible outcome".
"He was always promoting the most aggressive reforms. He knows football," said Carrard.
Infantino's election also brought praise from former players -- both the tongue-in-cheek and the serious.
"Have this weird feeling that Gianni Infantino will pull off his mask to reveal Sepp Blatter," wrote former England striker Gary Lineker on Twitter.
Portugal legend Luis Figo, who once even pondered entering the race for the FIFA presidency, said the arrival of Infantino represented a new dawn for the sport.
"Congratulations @Gianni_2016 finally the change arrived -- it's time for a new era in FIFA," tweeted Figo.
