Today, sad news reached the football world - the legendary Johan Cruyff, who played for "Barcelona" and the Netherlands national team, passed away at the age of 68. The former striker had been battling cancer.
In a statement posted on his personal website, it is said: "On March 24, 2016, after a fierce battle with cancer, Johan Cruyff peacefully passed away surrounded by his family in Barcelona. With great sadness, we ask to respect his family's privacy during this time of mourning."
The football legend began his career in 1964 at his hometown club "Ajax" in Amsterdam. Here he spent nine years and played 240 matches, showcasing excellent statistics. In total, he scored 190 goals with the Dutch club's jersey and was awarded the Golden Ball in 1971.
Cruyff led "Ajax" to become the strongest team in Europe in the last three seasons he played for the club.
In the summer of 1973, he moved to "Barcelona" and was once again recognized as the best player in the world. The following year, the "Ballon d'Or" striker won the award for the third time and led his national team to the World Cup final.
In Catalonia, Cruyff played until 1978, then spent several seasons in the USA, and finally ended his career by playing two seasons for "Ajax" and the last season for Rotterdam's "Feyenoord".
After retiring as a player, he coached two well-known clubs - "Ajax" and "Barcelona". With the first one, he won the Dutch Cup in 1986 and 1987, and in 1987, Cruyff led "Ajax" to victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup.
His eight seasons at the helm of "Barcelona" were particularly successful: the Catalan team became Spanish champions four times in a row from 1990 to 1994, triumphed in the UEFA Champions League in 1992 and played in its final two years later.
Football will surely miss Johan Cruyff. Let's remember some of the most memorable episodes of his career:
