ProMASS News Bureau: Mar 24, 2016:
The Dutch footballing legend Johan Cruyff has died after a battle with cancer. A short statement on his official website read: “On March 24 2016 Johan Cruyff (68) died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard fought battle with cancer.” The former Ajax and Barcelona star is considered one of the greatest players of all time, having led the famed Netherlands team of the 1970s, exponents of ‘Total Football’, to the 1974 World Cup final.
The Dutchman, who on three occasions was voted the world player of the year winning three Ballon d’Ors. He was also considered an exceptional manager, winning four Spanish titles and the European Cup in charge of Barcelona in the early 1990s, while his coaching philosophy and style of play influenced countless generations including Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola.
With Ajax, the team where he spent his youth, Cruyff won eight league titles in two spells – the first in 1966 and the last in 1983 – as well as a further five KNVB Cups. He also captained the club to three successive European Cup wins between 1971 and 1973, a feat only bettered by the great Real Madrid team of the 1950s, who won five in a row between 1956 and 1960.
