Barca remembers Cruyff
Print Edition
BARCELONA held a final day of respect for Johan Cruyff yesterday, remembering the Dutch soccer great who is largely credited with reinvigorating the club and helping launch its modern winning era.
Although the Nou Camp opened on Saturday to thousands of mourning fans, yesterday was the first day when members of the Cruyff family participated, with son and former Barcelona player Jordi Cruyff thanking fans and the club for their respect and affection.
Cruyff’s funeral was on Friday with just a few family and friends invited, his son said. He died on Thursday of lung cancer at 68. “We understood that Johan is not only ours, he belongs to the whole world,” Jordi Cruyff said.
Barcelona’s entire team paid homage with a minute’s silence before yesterday’s training began and then visited the stadium to take part in the event.
“Johan leaves us a fantastic legacy that will continue,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said. “We will always remember him.”
Cruyff, a former Netherlands international, reached his peak in the early 1970s, leading Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona to multiple trophies. He also led the Netherlands to the World Cup final in 1974 and later went on to successfully coach Barcelona. He is often listed among the greatest players ever, alongside Pele, Alfredo di Stefano, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
In 1979, he persuaded then Barcelona president Josep Nunez to set up La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy, based on coach Rinus Michels’ Ajax Academy at the Dutch club where Cruyff started as a professional.
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