He was one of the great players of Dutch “total football” and one of the pillars of the great Dutch team of the 1970s, along with Johan Cruyff, of whom he was the most faithful lieutenant, in the national team, in Ajax and FC Barcelona. : Johan Neeskens passed away on Sunday, October 6, at the age of 73.
“With Johan Neeskens, the world of Dutch and international football loses a legend”The Dutch federation (KNVB) reported in a statement on Monday, adding that the former player had died due to an unspecified illness. In X, FC Barcelona evokes “a Blaugrana legend that will remain forever in our memory.” In Catalonia, Neeskens had inherited the nickname “Johan the Second”, understood in honor of Johan Cruyff.
Born on September 15, 1951 in Heemstede, a town located halfway between Amsterdam and the sea, Johan Neeskens initially played as a right back. He was then repositioned in the center of the field with the arrival of “total football” advocated by Ajax Amsterdam coach Rinus Michels. In that position, tireless, he surprised with his speed, his endurance and his ability to be present both in defense and attack.
“The second best player in the world”
Neeskens scored 17 goals for the national team, including a penalty, in the 2my minute of play, during the 1974 World Cup final, which the “Oranje” lost (2-1) to West Germany. “No one remembers seconds, except when we are seconds.”I would say later.
If Neeskens never won the World Cup, he made up for it at club level, in particular with Ajax Amsterdam, winner of the Champions Cup, predecessor of the Champions League, in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
It was after this prestigious treble that he joined, along with Johan Cruyff, FC Barcelona. He became a favorite of the local fans, who nicknamed him “Johan Segón” (John the second). “I don’t mind being the second best player in the world”said Neeskens, author of 35 goals in six years at the Catalan club.
After Barcelona, he gave in to the sirens of the dollar to sign for the New York Cosmos in 1979. He then played alongside another soccer legend: the German Franz Beckenbauer.
The Dutchman finished his playing career in 1991, at the age of 40, in Switzerland, at FC Zug, where he later became coach. And it was as assistant coach when he returned to Barcelona in 2006, once again following in the footsteps of Cruyff, who had been Barça coach from 1988 to 1996. Neeskens had left the world of football in 2012, after one last experience in the South. Africa, in charge of Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, a team from Pretoria.
