Johan Cruyff, the man credited with helping reinvent modern soccer, has died aged 68.
The former player and manager of Spanish giants Barcelona and the Netherlands' most successful
club Ajax, had been battling lung cancer.
One of the world's greatest ever footballers, Cruyff's Dutch team finished runners up in the 1974 World Cup playing a revolutionary style of soccer that was dubbed "total football."
A statement on his official website read: "On March 24 2016 Johan Cruyff died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard fought battle with cancer.
"It's with great sadness that we ask you to respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."
"Johan Cruyff, true football royalty," tweeted Belgian captain Vincent Kompany. "I don't think anyone has ever influenced the game as much as he has done."
A former smoker, Cruyff underwent heart surgery in 1991 during his time as coach of Barcelona -- a club he also played for.
After his operation he took part in an anti-smoking advertising campaign, which had the slogan: "I've had two addictions in my life: smoking and playing football. Football has given me everything, whilst smoking almost took it all away."
Cruyff came to epitomize football in the 1970s and with his lanky hair and flared jeans, the Dutchman had as much swagger off the pitch as he did on it.
The Dutchman won the Ballon d'Or -- the old European Player of the Year award -- three times in 1971, 1973 and 1974 as he helped Ajax to its hat-trick of European titles in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
He also inspired Netherlands to a first ever World Cup final in 1974 in which the Oranje -- one of international football's most exciting sides in history -- lost to host West Germany. Cruyff received the Player of the Tournament award for his efforts.
The Dutchman also enjoyed success in Spain, where he won the Spanish La Liga title and Spanish Copa del Rey while at Barcelona.
As a coach Cruyff's influence has been almost as great as his playing legacy.
The former player and manager of Spanish giants Barcelona and the Netherlands' most successful
club Ajax, had been battling lung cancer.
One of the world's greatest ever footballers, Cruyff's Dutch team finished runners up in the 1974 World Cup playing a revolutionary style of soccer that was dubbed "total football."
A statement on his official website read: "On March 24 2016 Johan Cruyff died peacefully in Barcelona, surrounded by his family after a hard fought battle with cancer.
"It's with great sadness that we ask you to respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."
"Johan Cruyff, true football royalty," tweeted Belgian captain Vincent Kompany. "I don't think anyone has ever influenced the game as much as he has done."
A former smoker, Cruyff underwent heart surgery in 1991 during his time as coach of Barcelona -- a club he also played for.
After his operation he took part in an anti-smoking advertising campaign, which had the slogan: "I've had two addictions in my life: smoking and playing football. Football has given me everything, whilst smoking almost took it all away."
Cruyff came to epitomize football in the 1970s and with his lanky hair and flared jeans, the Dutchman had as much swagger off the pitch as he did on it.
The Dutchman won the Ballon d'Or -- the old European Player of the Year award -- three times in 1971, 1973 and 1974 as he helped Ajax to its hat-trick of European titles in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
He also inspired Netherlands to a first ever World Cup final in 1974 in which the Oranje -- one of international football's most exciting sides in history -- lost to host West Germany. Cruyff received the Player of the Tournament award for his efforts.
The Dutchman also enjoyed success in Spain, where he won the Spanish La Liga title and Spanish Copa del Rey while at Barcelona.
As a coach Cruyff's influence has been almost as great as his playing legacy.
