Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff dies aged 68

Johan Cruyff, the legendary Dutch striker and coach, has died of lung cancer aged 68, according to a message posted on his website on Thursday.

FC Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff passes away aged 68: https://t.co/zcLxVRIgPx pic.twitter.com/boKfKGIJaW

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 24, 2016

The site said he had died in Barcelona, surrounded by family.

As a player, Cruyff was the embodiment of Dutch “total football”, a fluid style of play focused on ball possession and rapid passing, and involving all members of the team in both attack and defence.

He emerged as one of the world’s greats in the early 1970s when he helped Ajax Amsterdam win three European Cups in a row from 1971-73, and he was named European Footballer of the Year in 1971, 1973 and 1974.

He joined Barcelona for a then world record transfer fee of $2.0 million, and it was the Catalan club that later defined his coaching career as he led them to their first La Liga title in nearly 15 years in 1974.

He was also a key player in the great Netherlands team that reached the 1974 World Cup final, when a global audience saw him perform the now-famous “Cruyff turn”, in which the player tries to deceive a defender by hooking the ball behind their leg before swerving away in the direction of the ball.

Cruyff had been a heavy smoker, and had had heart surgery in 1991. His death comes less than six months after he announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Our heart goes out to the family and friends of Johan #Cruyff. RIP football genius.

Photo: 1972 FIFPro Congress pic.twitter.com/Pu8bRQvlql

— FIFPro (FIFPro) March 24, 2016

Cruyff was an inspiration to a few of our skill moves, we adapted our own versions of the Cruyff Turn. #RIPCruyff ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Wroy1vrdEl

— The F2 (@F2Freestylers) March 24, 2016

Farewell Johan! Soccer legend Johan #Cruyff dies of cancer at the age of 68. pic.twitter.com/ZvsLlZU4uN

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) March 24, 2016

Reuters