Netherlands legend Johan Cruyff has died at the age of 68, following a battle with cancer.
Cruyff was diagnosed with lung cancer in October, subsequently undergoing a programme of treatment and describing the recovery process as being “all hands on deck.”
However, Cruyff passed away in Barcelona on Thursday.
A statement on the World of Johan Cruyff website read: “On March 24, 2016, Johan Cruyff (68) died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard fought battle with cancer. It’s with great sadness that we ask you to respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.”
Cruyff is firmly established as one of the greats of the game following an esteemed career with the likes of Ajax, Barcelona and the Netherlands national team.
The stylish playmaker spent 11 years across two spells with Ajax, winning eight Eredivisie titles as well as the European Cup on three successive occasions in the early 1970s.
Cruyff lifted one La Liga title during a five-year stint at Barca, and, after a spell in charge of Ajax, he returned to Camp Nou to manage the Catalan giants, where he won four successive Liga crowns while also leading what became known as ‘The Dream Team’ to European glory for the first time in the club’s history in 1992.
A World Cup finalist in 1974, Cruyff was the main playing protagonist of the ‘Total Football’ style employed by both Ajax and the Netherlands national team in their prime in the 1970s.
Cruyff was also a three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or.
Barcelona stars, Lionel Messi, and Gerard Pique have offered tributes to Cruyff.
Messages of condolence have poured in from across the footballing world after the former Ajax and Netherlands star lost his battle with lung cancer on Thursday.
Barca club captain Andres Iniesta described Cruyff as a key figure in the club’s modern success after his impact upon the youth system and playing culture at Camp Nou during his time as head coach of the ‘Dream Team’ of the early 1990s.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is the latest to pay his respects to Cruyff, posting simply on his official Facebook page: “Another legend has left us today.”
Messi’s club mate Gerard Pique underlined the importance of Cruyff in encouraging La Masia to cultivate footballing talent in his championed ‘total football’ style.
“It’s very sad news. I put him as one of the best players in history, and as a coach he changed the history of our club,” the defender said, speaking to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) while on international duty.
“The fact that we’re here is thanks largely to Johan Cruyff.”
