Soccer pioneer Johan Cruyff dies of cancer aged 68

Johan Cruyff, one of the greatest footballers in history, died on Thursday at the age of 68 after losing his battle with cancer, it was announced on his official Twitter account.

The Dutchman won three European Cups as a player with Ajax as well as three Ballon d’Or titles (1971, 1973, 1974). He then led Barcelona to their first European Cup title as a manager in 1992.

In an interview with him in November, Johan Cruyff was “convinced” he would come through his fight against lung cancer. He said, “For me it is a battle, but it is a battle that I am convinced I will win.”

Cruyff, who captained the Netherlands to the World Cup final in 1974, was one of the proponents of the “total football” philosophy. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner played for Barcelona from 1973 to 1978, winning La Liga in his first season at the Camp Nou which featured a superb performance in a legendary 5-0 win away to Real Madrid. He later coached the club from 1988 to 1996, leading them to their first European Cup in 1992.

Cruyff added he had been touched by the show of support since his diagnosis. “With so many people sending me their positive force, my body is twice as strong as it was before,” he said.