Johan Cruyff, the legendary Dutch soccer striker and coach, has died of lung cancer aged 68, according to a message posted on his website.

The site said he had died in Barcelona, surrounded by family.

As a player, Cruyff was the embodiment of Dutch "total football", a fluid style of play focused on ball possession and rapid passing, and involving all members of the team in both attack and defence.

He emerged as one of the world's greats in the early 1970s when he helped Ajax Amsterdam win three European Cups in a row from 1971-73, and he was named European Footballer of the Year in 1971, 1973 and 1974.

He joined Barcelona for a then-world record transfer fee of $2.0 million, and it was the Catalan club that later defined his coaching career as he led them to their first La Liga title in nearly 15 years in 1974.

He was also a key player in the great Netherlands team that reached the 1974 World Cup final, when a global audience saw him perform the now-famous "Cruyff turn", in which the player tries to deceive a defender by hooking the ball behind their own leg before swerving away in the direction of the ball.

Cruyff had been a heavy smoker, and had had heart surgery in 1991. His death comes less than six months after he announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

 

Factfile on Johan Cruyff

 

Name: Johan Cruyff

Born: Amsterdam 25/04/1947

Died: Barcelona 24/03/2016

Nationality: Dutch

Playing position: Attacking midfielder

Clubs : Ajax (1964-73), Barcelona (ESP/1973-78), Los Angeles Aztecs (USA/1979), Washington Diplomats (USA/1980), UD Levante (ESP/1980-81), Washington Diplomats (USA/1981), Ajax (1981-83), Feyenoord (1983-84)

International appearances: 48

International goals: 33

 

Playing Career

International playing honours

World Cup: finalist (1974), 1 appearance, 7 matches, 3 goals, player of the tournament

European Championships: third (1976), 0 goals

 

Club honours

3 European Cups (1971, 1972, 1973)

1 Intercontinental Cup (1972)

1 European Supercup (1972)

9 Dutch Championships (1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1983, 1984). Top scorer (1967/33 goals, 1972/25 goals)

6 Dutch Cups (1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1983, 1984)

1 Spanish Championship (1974)

1 Spanish Cup (1978)

 

Other Honours

3 times European player of the year (1971, 1973, 1974)

 

Coaching Career

Clubs: Ajax (1985-88), FC Barcelona (ESP/1988-96)

Coaching Honours

1 Champions League (1992) 2 Cup Winners' Cup (1987, 1989)

1 European Supercup (1992)

2 Dutch Cups (1986, 1987)

4 Spanish Championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994)

1 Spanish Cup (1990)

3 Spanish Supercups (1991, 1992, 1994)