By Daily Sports on March 24, 2016
Netherlands footballing great Johan Cruyff has died of cancer aged 68.
Cruyff, who made his name as a forward with Ajax and Barcelona, was European footballer of the year three times.
He won three consecutive European Cups with Ajax from 1971, coached Barcelona to their first European Cup triumph in 1992 and helped the Dutch reach the 1974 World Cup final, where they were beaten 2-1 by West Germany.
The Dutch FA said: “Words can hardly be found for this huge loss.”
It added: “The greatest Dutch footballer of all time and one of the world’s best ever. Our condolences go to his wife, family, friends and the entire football world at home and abroad. We wish everyone a lot of strength in this difficult time.”
He first showcased the ‘Cruyff turn’ at the 1974 World Cup in a match for the Netherlands against Sweden and scored 33 goals in 48 international appearances.
He scored 293 goals in 521 appearances for five different clubs – including 204 in 276 games while winning 18 trophies in two spells for Ajax.
Cruyff had double heart bypass surgery in 1991, and immediately after the operation gave up smoking and took to sucking lollipops in the Barcelona dugout.
He featured in a Catalan health department advert, saying: “Football has given me everything in life, tobacco almost took it all away.”
The Catalan side won four consecutive La Liga titles from 1990-91 to 1993-94 under his guidance and, although he was sacked in 1995, he remained influential at the club for the rest of his life.
Cruyff was diagnosed with cancer in October 2015 but in February of this year he said he felt he was “2-0 up in a match” against lung cancer and he was “sure I will end up winning.” (BBC)
•Photo shows late soccer legend Johan Cruyff.
Source Daily Sports
Posted March 24, 2016
You may also like...
Arsenal Will Make Top Four -Aubameyang
Five-goal Chelsea 'fantastic' – Conte
Champions League: Hazard To Miss Atalanta Tie, Zidane...
Ejidike, Ikpea, others mourn Rev. Iloh
Tottenham Confirm One Positive Coronavirus Test
Euro 2020: Muller Out Of Hungary Clash
JOF U-13 football tournament ends May 12
Fredrick: Who is Brentford’s new man?
‘Players’ self-belief secret of Rangers success’
How Enyimba, fans celebrated Finidi’s Eagles appointment
Boniface, Tella strike fear in De Rossi
They smeared my name over Eagles job – Amuneke
How Finidi beat Amuneke, others to Eagles coaching job
Brentford signs Nigerian U-20 sensation Benjamin Frederick from Moses Simon’s Kaduna academy
SWAN President Says NEC Not Aware Of Full Coucil Meeting In Kano
The challenges before Eagles coach Finidi
Dessers hits back at critics
Hearn talks up Joshua, Wilder fight
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (53,690 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (44,692 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (42,847 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (42,521 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (42,280 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (42,164 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (42,064 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (41,536 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (40,568 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (39,563 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (37,933 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (37,498 views)