Netherlands legend Neeskens dies aged 73

Netherlands and Ajax legend Johan Neeskens has passed away at the age of 73, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has announced.

Neeskens played a key role in the Ajax and Netherlands teams credited with popularising “total football” in the 1970s, playing alongside Johan Cruyff for club and country.

Neeskens scored 17 goals in 49 appearances for his nation, helping them reach two World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, only for West Germany and Argentina to beat them in those showpiece matches.

The midfielder scored the opening goal from the penalty spot in the first of those finals, only for goals from Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller to hand West Germany their second title.

He also helped Ajax win back-to-back Eredivisie crowns in 1971-72 and 1972-73, as well as three straight European Cups in 1971, 1972 and 1973, a feat that has only been replicated by Bayern Munich (1974 to 1976) and Real Madrid (2016 to 2018) since then.

Neeskens followed Cruyff and coach Rinus Michels to Barcelona in 1974, winning the Copa del Rey and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in five seasons at Camp Nou.

A KNVB statement released on Monday read: “The KNVB was deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Johan Neeskens.

Met grote verslagenheid heeft de KNVB kennisgenomen van het onverwachte overlijden van Johan Neeskens.

Johan was een van onze allergrootsten. We gaan hem enorm missen.

We wensen zijn vrouw Marlis, zijn kinderen Christian, Tamara, Bianca en Armand, zijn kleinkinderen Djoy en… pic.twitter.com/z4ErJ7Hqeb

— KNVB (@KNVB) October 7, 2024

“Johan was one of our greatest. We will miss him tremendously. We wish his wife Marlis, his children Christian, Tamara, Bianca and Armand, his grandchildren Djoy and Lovee, relatives and friends much strength in bearing this great loss. Rest in peace, Johan.”

Following his retirement, Neeskens had a spell as the Netherlands’ assistant manager under Guus Hiddink and Frank Rijkaard, also assisting the latter at Barcelona from 2006 to 2008.

He also spent four years in charge of Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen, leading them to UEFA Cup qualification via a fifth-placed league finish in 2002-03.