Johan Cruyff passed away earlier this week after a battle with cancer. The former Ajax and Barcelona forward, possibly the most influential figure in modern football, was 68.
Tributes from across the world poured in for the Dutch genius, and his former club Ajax look set to pay their former player the ultimate honour – the Amsterdam club are set to re-name their stadium in honour Cruyff.
“The city wants it, so now we have to discuss it with the family of Johan Cruyff,” Amsterdam’s Deputy Mayor Eric van der Burg told Sky Sports. And the idea was echoed by the president of the Dutch Football Association, Michael van Praag.
“I can’t wait for the moment when we rename our stadium the Johan Cruyff Arena,” he said. “It’s the best tribute we can pay him.”
Cryuff grew up a few hundred yards from Ajax’s former stadium, became the team’s greatest ever player, winning three European Cups before becoming manager in the 1980s.
