Ajax have renamed Amsterdam ArenA the Johan Cruyff ArenA on late icon’s 70th birthday
AJAX have renamed the Amsterdam ArenA the Johan Cruyff ArenA on what would have been the late icon’s 70th birthday.
The club legend – who won three European Cups while playing for the side – passed away just over 12 months ago after battling cancer.
The Amsterdam ArenA has been renamed in honour of Johan CruyffAP:Associated Press
And now his first team have paid a fitting tribute to his enduring brilliance by honouring the ground in his name.
Ajax announced the change today following an agreement with the club’s board, the mayor of Amsterdam and the chief of sports and recreation in the city.
Cruyff has been immortalised for the introduction of “total football”, pioneered by Ajax and Holland – who reached the 1974 World Cup final.
Ajax’s home ground has been renamed to honour club legend Johan CruyffGetty ImagesThe pioneer of ‘total football’ would have been 70 todayGetty Images
It was with him in the side that Ajax won eight Eredivisie titles and one Intercontinental Cup.
Later a boss of the club - who currently sit second in the table behind Feyenoord - he led them to Uefa Cup Winners' Cup glory in 1987.
Barcelona, for whom Cruyff played for five years and led to four La Liga titles, also honoured the star.
David Luiz splashes out £1.1m on luxury bracelets for Chelsea team-mates to celebrate winning title… and gift for Abramovic is made from FIVE BILLION-year-old meteorite
DONE DEAL
Man United boss Jose Mourinho makes Espanyol's Arnau Puigmal his first summer signing
Emirates civil war
Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov makes staggering £1BILLION bid to buy Stan Kroenke's majority stake in Arsenal
german off-icieny
Bibiana Steinhaus will become Bundesliga's first female referee — and she's Howard Webb's girlfriend
'Gary has good prospects'
Antonio Conte confirms Gary Cahill is in line to replace John Terry as Chelsea captain
'NOT A COACH'
Arsene Wenger can't coach his way out of a paper bag and Arsenal blocked my return FOUR times, says Tony Adams
Valentina's Day
Juventus boss Max Allegri's stunning daughter Valentina sends social media into frenzy with sexy bikini selfies
KYL-ER BLOW
Liverpool have £64m bid for Monaco star Kylian Mbappe turned down, according to bizarre rumour
WAYNING POWERS
Jose Mourinho reveals Wayne Rooney faces 'very difficult' situation as he comes to 'last part of career'
FRANCKS FOR EVERYTHING!
Bayern Munich to let Franck Ribery return to Marseille this summer after decade of service
Yoko oh yes
Chelsea to ramp up bid to land Tiemoue Bakayoko for £43m and could throw in Michy Batshuayi to seal deal
JOSE'S JUNIORS
Jose Mourinho set to name TEN Man Utd kids in his squad for final Prem game of season against Palace
Ajax to grind
Jose Mourinho says Ajax should not be in Europa League because they played Champions League
ALL WHITE FOR SOME
Manchester United train ahead of their final Premier League match... but has Paul Pogba forgotten his boots?
MANC MESSI
Meet Angel Gomes... the Manchester United wonderkid being compared to Barcelona great
Spain pain
Marcos Alonso snubbed by Spain as Arsenal's Nacho Monreal gets nod... but Bellerin drops to under-21s
Dier Straits
Tottenham shaken as Eric Dier wants to leave along with Kyle Walker and Danny Rose... as both Manchester clubs prepare to swoop for Spurs stars
Blues in Aub-it
Chelsea want Borussia Dortmund's 37-goal hero Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to replace Diego Costa
Talisman
Antonio Conte promises to build Chelsea team around Eden Hazard if Belgian signs new £300k-a-week deal
AND HE'S WON IT
Ander Herrera bags player of the year award at Man United's lavish end of season bash hosted by Rachel Riley
Ajax said in a statement: "The parties are convinced that in this way justice is done to the memory of Johan Cruyff, and express the hope that the Johan Cruyff ArenA is an inspiration for players from all over the world."
In addition, a street, square, bridge or other feature of the Dutch capital will be named after Cruyff.
Leave a comment