Johan Cruyff dead: Defining moments from the king of 'total football'

The former Ajax and Barca forward helped typify the ‘total football’ which guided Holland to the World Cup final in 1974

Samuel Stevens
Thursday 24 March 2016 14:31 GMT
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Johan Cruyff at the 1974 World Cup
Johan Cruyff at the 1974 World Cup

Johan Cruyff has died at the age of 68 of cancer but not before writing his name into football folklore as one of the greatest Dutch footballers of his generation.

The former Ajax and Barcelona forward helped typify the ‘total football’ which guided the Netherlands to the World Cup final in 1974 while the ‘Cruyff turn’ remains one of the hardest skills for modern day footballers to perfect.

He was also considered an exceptional manager, winning four Spanish titles and the European Cup in charge of Barca in the early 1990s after two KNVB Cup successes with Ajax, the club where he joined the academy as a 10-year-old.

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.

"It’s with great sadness that we ask you to respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."

The Dutch FA added: "Words can hardly be found for this huge loss.

"The greatest Dutch footballer of all time and one of the world's best ever. Our condolences go to his wife, family, friends and the entire football world at home and abroad. We wish everyone a lot of strength in this difficult time."

See below for a selection of the most notable moments of football’s most colourful of superstars...

Cruyff first showcased the 'Cruyff turn' at the 1974 World Cup in a match for the Netherlands against Sweden.

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