The football world was stunned today by the news that legendary Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff had passed away.
Dutch publications reported that Cruyff had died following a battle with cancer. He was 68 years of age.
Cruyff is regarded by many to be one of the most influential figures in footballing history.
A three-time Ballon D'Or winner, he won three consecutive European Cups with Ajax as a player, before managing Barcelona to their first European Cup in 1992.
Cruyff, along with mentor Rinus Michels, pioneered the "Total Football" theory of football, where a team would boast a balanced side of players capable of easily swapping position at will. He is called by many a footballing philosopher, behind much of Ajax's and Barcelona current play.
He also gave us the Cruyff turn - an excellent way to get out of a tricky bind, not to mention make a defender look silly.
via GIPHY
Football fans from around the world have started to mourn the great man on social media.
https://twitter.com/Hari_Sethi/status/712982428885843968
https://twitter.com/Okwonga/status/712980856361652224
https://twitter.com/stan_chow/status/712980712127913985
https://twitter.com/samuelluckhurst/status/712980839009816576
https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/712987719643893760
Cruyff's son Jordi posted this lovely tribute to his dad last weekend.
https://twitter.com/JordiCruyff/status/711222649381326849
RIP Johan.
