After beginning his coaching career with Ajax in 1985, where he won the KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) on two occasions as well as the Cup Winners’ Cup, he brought even greater glory to Catalonia.
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The Dutch legend died aged 68 after losing battle with cancer.
He said in February that he had received “very positive” results however.
At the Nou Camp he won the European Cup, in 1992, and four league titles among a raft of trophies.
Sports Mole takes a look at some of the tributes that have been paid to Johan Cruyff on Twitter.
Cruyff, who represented Holland 48 times as well as starring for Ajax and Barcelona during a glittering career, passed away after his battle with cancer survived by family and friends.
The masterful Dutch footballer, who starred for the Netherlands during their run to the 1974 World Cup final, underwent a heart bypass in 1991 after a lifetime of smoking.
On February 13, Cruyff announced: “Right now, I have the feeling that I am 2-0 up in the first half of a match that has not finished yet”.
“Very sad to hear the news of Johan Cruyff, fantastic player and a sad loss to the football world”. He also won three successive European Cups between 1971 and 1973.
Only a handful of players can say that they can make an argument for the best of all time without ever lifting a World Cup. I have lost a friend but the Netherlands has lost great footballer, a forward thinker who dedicated his life to taking football to the highest level possible. At the time, I was the only non-European player at Barcelona.
Poignantly that turned out to be one of the last public statements made by the man whose footballing pronouncements were eagerly sought after by soccer fans around the globe.
After he was sacked in 1995, he remained influential at Barcelona. He helped us to understand the game more.
– England hero Bobby Charlton remembered Cruyff as one of the finest players to grace the pitch.
Jan Olsson, the Swedish defender fooled by Johan Cruyff’s brilliant dummy at the 1974 World Cup, has revealed how he and his team-mates exploded into laughter after witnessing the winger’s most famous skill.
Maradona said: “We will never forget you, mate”, while another Argentine Lionel Messi, the world’s best current player, added, “Another legend has left us today”.
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Tomorrow night’s friendly between Holland and France will stop after 14 minutes for a minute’s silence to pay tribute to Cruyff – who wore the number 14 jersey as a player.
