Dutch Football Legend Johan Cruyff Dies of Cancer Aged 68

Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff passed away at the age of 68 in Barcelona on Thursday, the cause of his death being cancer.

Cruyff, who had been a heavy smoker until he underwent a heart surgery in 1991, was diagnosed with lung cancer in October last year.

Born in Amsterdam in 1947, he started his professional career at Ajax where he scored 190 goals in 240 matches. In 1973, Cruyff moved to Barcelona, recording 143 appearances for the Catalan team and scoring 48 goals.

He also scored 33 goals in 48 matches for the Dutch national team.

Cryuff is considered one of the greatest football players of all times, with the Dutch forward having won the Ballon d'Or on three occasions in 1971, 1973 and 1974.

As player of Ajax, he won three consecutive European Cups between 1971 and 1973 and eight Eredivisie titles.

His greatest successes with the national team were reaching the final of the 1974 World Cup and the third place claimed at the 1976 European championship.

As coach of Barcelona, he helped the Catalan team lift its first Champions League trophy in 1992.

Under his guidance, Barcelona claimed four successive La Liga titles between 1991 and 1994.