Johan Neeskens died at the age of 73
Johan Neeskensformer Dutch national team player, died at the age of 73 “suddenly”, according to the Dutch Football Federation. Neeskens was one of the football icons of the 70s, playing in Ajax and FC Barcelonawhere he accompanied his inseparable friend, Johan Cruyff.
The Dutch midfielder is real legend in the Netherlands. It was forged in Ajax and subscribed to it FC Barcelona in 1974, being one of the key players in the Dutch team that consistently played in World Cup finals in Germany 1974 and Argentina 1978. in both cases it falls to the share of the owners.
Football player He arrived at FC Barcelona in 1974. comes from Ajax, and approved by Johan Cruyff, who a season earlier moved to the Barça club. He wore the Barça shirt in 183 official matches, scoring a total of 44 goals over five seasons, leaving an indelible mark with his determination, physical strength and power, especially in his headers and penalties.
Barça badge
Three-time winner of the competition European Cup with Ajax and twice second in the world with the NetherlandsAmong other achievements, the former Dutch player won the European Cup Winners’ Cup (1978–1979) and the Copa del Rey (1977–1978) with Barça, where he returned more than two decades later as assistant coach to compatriot Frank Rijkaard. (2006-2008).
The Barça fans in Piazza Sant Jaume deserve a thumbs up. hero of the 1978–79 Cup Winners’ Cup victory and returned to FC Barcelona. as Frank Rijkaard’s second coach at Barça from 2006 to 2008.
“FC Barcelona deeply regrets the death of Johan Neeskens. A Barça legend who will always be in our memory. May he rest in peace,” the Catalan body wrote on its official “X” account.
Earliest goal in a World Cup final
Johan Neeskens was born on September 15, 1951 in Heemsted (Netherlands). Although he loved baseball in his youth, he eventually settled on the world of football. So he entered RCH Heemstede until he signed with Ajax at the age of 19. from Amsterdam, trained Rinus Michels and where he met another special Johan: Johan Cruyff.
WITH Ajax had a glorious period as a footballer and won three European Cups in a row, two leagues, a Dutch Cup, an Intercontinental Cup and a Super Cup. Once all this was achieved with the Amsterdam team, he arrived in Barcelona on June 20, 1974, again matching Johan Cruyff. After five years of hard work in the Barca midfield, the 1979 European Cup Winners’ Cup final was his last game for Barca.
After his stay at Barça he moved to New York Space (1979–1984) play the 1984/85 season in Groningen and the subsequent season in the Fort Lauderdale Sun (1985), and also go through several teams – Kansas City Comets (1985-1986), Lowenbrau (1986-1987) , “Baar” (1987–1990) – until his retirement in Zug (1990–1991).
Since his debut in 1970, he made 49 caps for the Netherlands and scored 17 goals in ten years, being one of the figures in the Netherlands team that played in successive World Cup finals in Germany 1974 and Argentina 1978, losing on both occasions. the receiving team.
Johan Neeskens – author Earliest goal in a World Cup final taking a penalty in the second minute of the final in Munich against Franz Beckenbauer’s Germany, which eventually won the title thanks to goals from Paul Breitner (p) and Gerd Müller (2-1).