England manager Roy Hodgson: Johan Cruyff was one of the true legends of the game
Roy Hodgson has paid tribute to Johan Cruyff, 68, after the Dutch football legend lost his battle with cancer on Thursday, labelling him a “true legend of the game”.
Cruyff died peacefully with his family in Barcelona having been diagnosed with lung cancer in October.
The former Ajax and Barcelona forward was among the greatest players ever to play the game, winning three European Cups and playing a key role in the birth of the Total Football system for both Ajax and the Dutch national side.
In later years he was to enjoy coaching success at both sides, most notably at the Nou Camp where his ‘Dream Team’ ended Barcelona’s wait for a European Cup with victory in the 1992 final.
England manager Hodgson paid his respect to Cruyff after his side had heard the news whilst preparing for Saturday’s trip to Germany.
“The world of football has lost one of the true legends of the game,” he told FATV. “Both as a player and a coach his achievements were second to none, I’m really saddened by the loss. It was a blow finishing training and hearing this.”
“As a real football fan, who was really impressed by the football player Johan Cruyff and again as the manager, I’m proud to say I knew him and had chances to meet him and talk with him.”
England host the Netherlands on Tuesday night, with plans already being made for a tribute to the legacy of their opponent’s greatest ever player.
Hodgson added: “I’ve had no chance to talk to the people at the FA as to what we intend to do but I’d be very surprised if moves aren’t already afoot for us to pay tribute and I’ll be very happy to be part of that tribute.
“We’re talking about one of the real greats of the game. The word legend is sometimes used a bit loosely, sometimes even flippantly, but there are one or two legends and Johan Cruyff was one of those.”
ArticleHodgson: Cruyff was one of the true legends of the gameRoy HodgsonEngland Football TeamJohan Cruyff