Netherlands legend Johan Neeskens dies aged 73

Johan Neeskens, one of many midfield stars of the Netherlands’ “Clockwork Orange” groups of the Nineteen Seventies alongside Johan Cruyff, has died. He was 73.

The Dutch soccer affiliation, KNVB, mentioned Monday that Neeskens died the day before today in Algeria, the place he was collaborating in a training venture it organised. No reason behind demise was instantly introduced.

“Phrases fail to seize the enormity and suddenness of this loss,” the KNVB mentioned in an announcement on its web site. “Our ideas are together with his spouse Marlis, his kids, household and pals.

“The world not solely says goodbye to a gifted sportsman however, above all, to a compassionate, pushed and fantastic individual.”

Neeskens misplaced two successive World Cup finals.

He scored from the penalty spot to provide his workforce an early 1-0 lead within the 1974 showpiece however the Netherlands, recognized for his or her fluent model of “complete soccer,” went on to lose 2-1 to West Germany in Munich.

“Essentially the most stunning soccer would not at all times win,” he mentioned later, in accordance with the KNVB. “However it’s unimaginable to me that individuals all around the world nonetheless speak about that Dutch workforce. One of the best and most stunning soccer, complete soccer.”

Neeskens was additionally within the workforce 4 years later when the Dutch once more fell agonisingly in need of the world title, shedding 3-1 to hosts Argentina after additional time in Buenos Aires.

Neeskens performed a complete of 49 internationals for the Netherlands, together with 12 at World Cups, and scored 17 objectives.

Neeskens received the European Cup, the predecessor of the Champions League, 3 times as a part of the dominant Ajax workforce of the early ’70s and went on to play for Barcelona after which the New York Cosmos amongst different groups.

“We’re deeply saddened to listen to concerning the passing of Johan Neeskens. Our ideas are together with his household right now. Relaxation in peace, Ajax legend,” the Amsterdam membership mentioned on X, previously Twitter.

Barcelona, referring to the membership’s nickname, known as Neeskens “A blaugrana legend who will endlessly be in our reminiscence. Relaxation in peace.”

At a reunion of the gamers within the 1974 World Cup closing, Neeskens defined what he believed was the important thing to a workforce’s success.

“The collective, that is what it is all about,” he mentioned in accordance with the KNVB. “You want one another on the sphere. You’ll be able to solely grow to be a champion as a workforce. There is just one star and that’s the workforce.”

After his enjoying profession, Neeskens acted as an assistant coach for each the Netherlands and Australia.