October 8 – Johan Neeskens, part of the Ajax and Netherlands teams that created “total football” in the 1970s and a key team-mate of Johan Cruyff, has died aged 73.
Neeskens played in the Ajax team that won three straight European Cups in the early 1970s and was also a member of the ‘Clockwork Oranje’ Dutch team that reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978. He won 49 caps for the Netherlands.
“With his characteristic tackles, sublime insight and iconic penalties, (he) will forever remain one of the leading players that Dutch football has ever produced,” said the Dutch FA (KNVB) in tribute.
He was “a world citizen and a gentle family man who was proud of his children and grandchildren and who, until the very end, knew how to touch others with his love for football.”
“Words fail to capture the enormity and suddenness of this loss. The world not only says goodbye to a gifted sportsman but, above all, to a compassionate, driven and wonderful person.”
The KNVB said it would hold a minute’s silence at the next two international matches against Hungary and Germany.
Ajax wrote on X: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Johan Neeskens. Our thoughts are with his family at this time. Rest in peace, Ajax legend.”
Neeskens lost two successive World Cup finals. He scored from the penalty spot to give his team an early 1-0 lead in the 1974 showpiece but the Netherlands went on to lose to West Germany 2-1.
“The most beautiful football doesn’t always win,” he said later. “But it’s incredible to me that people all over the world still talk about that Dutch team. The best and most beautiful football, total football.”
Current Dutch coach Ronald Koeman described Neeskens as his “great idol”.
Playing football in the street as a boy, Koeman said his friends either wanted to be Crujff or Willem van Hanegem.
“But I wanted to be Neeskens.”
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