Former Barcelona legend Johan Neeskens passes away at 73

It's with sadness that we learned of the passing of former Dutch footballer Johan Neeskens at the age of 73. The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed the news on Monday, though they did not provide specifics about the circumstances of his passing. Neeskens had been in Algeria as part of a youth coach training program in his final days.

The KNVB expressed their deep sorrow over the unexpected passing of Neeskens, describing him as one of the greatest Dutch footballers.

One of the legends in Dutch Football 

Neeskens was actively involved with the KNVB's WorldCoaches project, a commendable program that aims to train young individuals worldwide to become football coaches in their respective communities.

Neeskens, a respected figure in the world of football, earned 49 international caps for the Dutch national team. He is fondly remembered for his remarkable contributions, notably in the 1974 World Cup final against West Germany, where he made a significant impact by opening the scoring with a penalty in the second minute. Despite the Netherlands ultimately losing 2-1, Neeskens' legacy lives on through his invaluable contributions to the sport.

In the 1978 World Cup final against Argentina, he played, which concluded with the same outcome for the Dutch.

A Great Career

At the club level, Neeskens excelled at Ajax Amsterdam (1968-1973) and gained immense popularity at FC Barcelona (1974-1979) after joining under the supervision of coach Johan Cruyff. He was a key figure during a glorious period at the club and was endearingly referred to as "Johan the Second," as recounted by public broadcaster NOS.

After his experience in Europe, Neeskens spent some time in the United States before concluding his playing career in Switzerland. He chose to continue living in Switzerland and became involved in various international projects.

Transitioning into coaching, Neeskens took on the role of assistant with the Dutch national team, collaborating with notable figures such as Guus Hiddink and Frank Rijkaard. In 2000, he took on the position of head coach at NEC Nijmegen, a local Dutch club.