Total tributes for 'Dutch Master' Cruyff

Fans and football stars paid an emotional hommage to Johan Cruyff who was to get an unprecedented mid-match tribute in a Netherlands international on Friday.

A Dutch newspaper for whom Cruyff wrote a column said the funeral of the 68-year-old Cruyff was to be held Friday and the family said they had been "deeply" touched by the accolades paid.

The family said they would soon announce their own public memorial for the Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona legend who died on Thursday from lung cancer.

Pictures of Cruyff playing in his familiar number 14 shirt covered front pages around the world.

Fans flocked to the Cruyff statue in his home city of Amsterdam to leave flowers, portraits and footballs honouring the Total Football innovator.
The ArenaA stadium and his family's home in the city also became a draw for football pilgrims.

A Netherlands v France friendly international at the stadium will be halted in the 14th minute for one minute of silence -- the first time such a gesture has been made during an international.

And leading football figures again highlighted the importance of Cruyff's impact on football.

"I knew nothing about football before knowing Cruyff," said Pepe Guardiola, the Bayern Munich coach who played under Cruyff at Barcelona told Catalan radio Rac1.

"He helped us to understand football ... and he encouraged you to trust your instinct, your nose. To make decisions," Guardiola told Catalan radio station Rac1.
"He revolutionised football and, in particular, he embodied everything about Barcelona's playing philosophy," said Joachim Loew, coach of the German team who won the 2014 World Cup.

The Dutch nation, in particular, mourned their icon.

"Dutch Master" said the Dutch tabloid Algemeen Dagblad with a picture of a young Cruyff in full flight in the Ajax Amsterdam colours.

"Immortal" said De Telegraaf daily which carried a picture of Cruyff, taken from behind featuring his famous Number 14 jersey.

Newspapers around the world hailed Cruyff. "Heaven has a new playmaker," headlined the British tabloid, The Sun.
A one-time heavy smoker who gave up after double heart by-pass surgery in 1991, Cruyff revealed in October last year that he had lung cancer.

Cruyff "died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard-fought battle with cancer", said a family statement.

On Friday, his son, Jordi Cruyff, added the family's gratitude "for all the love, kind words and memories that have been shared with us, since yesterday but also over the past months.

"It has touched us deeply that Johan was such an inspiration to many of you."

The family said it was arranging "a private farewell to Johan." But they did not confirm that a cremation was held Friday.
Cruyff won three European Cups as a player with Ajax Amsterdam and Ballon d'Or titles in 1971 with Ajax and 1973 and 1974 with Barcelona, where he starred from 1973 to 1978.

Football greats around the world have hailed Cruyff and his dazzling football artistry.

"We have lost a great man. May we carry on his example of excellence," said Brazil's Pele.

"Johan Cruyff was a great player and coach. He leaves a very important legacy for our family of football."

"He was the best player of all time," French legend Michel Platini told AFP hailing his admiration for the Dutchman.

"Between two drags on his cigarettes, he always spoke of the young, coaching, and education through football," Platini, the UEFA president now suspended from football, added.

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We will never forget you skinny," said Argentina legend Diego Maradona in his tribute.

Franz Beckenbauer, who captained Germany when they beat the Netherlands in Cruyff's only World Cup final in 1974, said: "He was not only a very good friend, but also a brother to me."

With his precision passes, speed, technique and goalscoring ability, Cruyff set new standards as a player.

Cruyff helped end an era of dour defensive football, inspiring the Dutch team in their Total Football offensive that took them to the 1974 World Cup final. Every player had to be ready to take on every position.

Cruyff moved from Ajax Amsterdam to Barcelona in 1973 and stayed there until 1978.

He returned 10 years later to coach the Spanish side. They won four consecutive league titles and their first ever European Cup in 1992 at Wembley.

Barcelona said fans would pay tribute to Cruyff on Saturday at the Camp Nou Stadium where a special condolence area would be set aside.

Some fans launched a Twitter campaign for the stadium to be renamed after Cruyff.
SourcE: AFP