Mourning in the world of football: Johan Neeskens dies at 73. The Dutch federation KNVB broke the news
World football loses one of its greatest protagonists. Johan Neeskenslegendary all-rounder for Ajax and the Dutch national team, has died at the age of 73. The news, confirmed by the Dutch federation KNVB, marked the loss of a player who represented one of the brightest icons of international football.
Neeskens was a symbol of an entire football era, that of the legendary Dutch “total football” of the 1970s, revolutionary in its style and approach to the game. Rinus Michels said of him:
“There is no Cruijff without a Neeskens”.
A tribute that underlines the importance of this universal midfielder. He perfectly embodied the dynamism, tactical intelligence and technique of that extraordinary football revolution.
The federation, addressing his wife Marlis, his children Christian, Tamara, Bianca and Armand, and his grandchildren with affection and closeness in this moment of pain:
“It is with great sadness that the KNVB learned of the unexpected death of Johan Neeskens. Johan was one of our greatest. We will miss him enormously.”
Neeskens career begins at Racing Club Heemstede, but is with Ajax who has become a globally recognized champion. With the Amsterdam club, Neeskens won two national championships, won the European Cup three times and an Intercontinental Cup. With the Netherlands shirt he reached the World Cup final twice, in 1974 and 1978. In the historic ’74 final against West Germany, Neeskens opened the scoring with a penalty, but the title eluded the Dutch after goals by Breitner and Müller.
Neeskens was an authentic symbol of “Totaalvoetbal” or “total football”, that model of fluid play in which the roles on the pitch were interchangeable and where each player had to know how to do everything. Johan was the perfect representation of this style: the first true “all-rounder”, capable of entering without the ball, scoring, defending and managing the game in every phase.
In 1974, after scoring 17 goals in 49 appearances for Oranje, Johan Neeskens moved to Barcelonaexperiencing a new era of splendor alongside his partner and friend Johan Cruijff, so much so that he earned the nickname “Johan Segundo”. After his experience in Spain, he embarked on a new football adventure in the United States with the NY Cosmos. He then returned to Europe, before ending his career in Switzerland, where he continued to live even after hanging up his shoes.
Neeskens embarked on a career as a coach, traveling halfway around the world. His best years as a manager came as assistant to Frank Rijkaard, with whom he shared success in charge of Barcelona and Galatasaray. His last experience as a coach was in South Africa, with Mamelodi Sundowns FC in 2012.
The world of football rallies around Neeskens’ family. Among the first to commemorate him, Ajax, the club that made him great, expressed its sorrow:
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Johan Neeskens. Our thoughts are with his family at this time ♥️
Rest in peace, Ajax legend. pic.twitter.com/IXsuVCHDee
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) October 7, 2024
Johan Neeskens leaves an indelible legacy in world football. A pioneer, a silent leader and a universal champion who represented the very essence of revolutionary and innovative football. His name will forever remain linked to that brilliant and unscrupulous Holland, that invincible Ajax, and the concept of a football in which every player could be, like him, capable of anything.
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