Johan Cruyff, the Dutch soccer legend, died on Thursday at 68, after a battle with lung cancer. He revolutionized the game with his concept of Total Football.
What happened?
Cruyff's death was announced by Joaquin Munoz of the Cruyff Foundation in Barcelona. Despite his illness, Cruyff remained optimistic, saying last month that his recovery was going well.
Why it matters for Johan Cruyff
Cruyff's influence on the sport is immense, with his tactics and leadership inspiring teams worldwide. He won European championships three times with Ajax and once with FC Barcelona as a coach.
What comes next?
The Netherlands-France friendly match on Friday in Amsterdam will be halted in the 14th minute for a minute’s silence in honor of Cruyff, who made the No. 14 shirt his own during his career with The Netherlands’ national team.
Cruyff's talent was such that he is comfortably placed alongside Pele, Diego Maradona, Franz Beckenbauer, and Lionel Messi as the best footballers of all time. Lionel Messi said, "Another legend has left us today."
Cruyff smoked cigarettes most of his life, even as a player, but finally quit after undergoing an emergency heart-bypass operation in 1991. After more heart trouble in 1997, he vowed never to coach again.
Cruyff's wiry frame housed surprising athletic talent, unpredictable bursts of speed and agility, and precise ball-control that allowed him to trick opponents. He scored 392 times in 520 games over a 19-year playing career.
As a coach, he had 242 victories in 387 matches, with 75 draws and 70 losses. Cruyff was heavily involved in tactics from the start of his career, helping develop Total Football with Rinus Michels.
Under the strategy, players pass the ball frequently to seek advantage and switch positions seamlessly to adjust to the flow of play. Latin American admirers referred to the orange-clad Dutch national team as “The Clockwork Orange.”
Cruyff was the personification of a total footballer, playing deep or shallow as the moment required, as deadly from the wings as from his central position. He was named Europe’s best player of the 20th century in 1999.
On the field, Cruyff was a leader, thinker, and speaker, with a brash Amsterdam accent that put across his views about soccer with irresistible force. His commentary became oft-quoted classics, like "Every disadvantage has its advantage" and "You can’t win without the ball."
Cruyff's legacy will live on, inspiring future generations of soccer players and coaches. His influence on the sport is a testament to his innovative tactics and leadership.
The soccer world will miss Johan Cruyff, but his memory will continue to inspire and influence the sport. On 24 March 2016, the world lost a soccer legend, but his legacy will never be forgotten.