Johan (Neeskens) also left, who goes to meet at Johan Cruyff

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The second Johan (Neeskens) also left, who goes to meet his "big brother" (Cruyff).

Manos Staramopoulos • 8 de octubre de 2024

Neeskens, one of the leading footballers who came to know Dutch football, died suddenly in Algeria at the age of 73.

Johan Neeskens with Netherlands against Argentina in FIFA World Cup 1978 final.

Johan Neeskens, one of the leading footballers who came to know Dutch football, died suddenly in Algeria at the age of 73. Neeskens was in Algeria representing his country's football association (KNVB) when he suddenly felt unwell and passed out shortly afterwards. "The second Johan" is dead, his legacy lives on.

In addition to his football intelligence, Neeskens stood out for his long hair, sideburns and tall legs. He was a "tool" footballer, as he could play in any position on the pitch, he could become an auxiliary footballer, but also a leader. He ran, he marked, he scored... He did it all.

It is indicative that he became the great protagonist of the "Oranje" in the 1978 World Cup, in which he led the Netherlands to the final again. Of course, they may have been defeated there (3-1 by the hosts Argentina) by another equally great team of Luque , Kempes, Ardiles...

The "little brother" of Johan Cruyff, or "little Johan" as he was called, was a footballer who was not only characterized by talent, but also by fighting spirit, stubbornness and soul. His love for the jersey and the sport itself, was something that could be seen in his every appearance on the pitch.

As for Cruyff and the fact that he was usually in his "shadow", he never cared. After all, he was his "big brother".

Johannes Jacobus "Johan" Neeskens was born on September 15, 1951 Neeskens (pronounced Neeskens by the Dutch), would have turned 23 in two months in July 1974. Born in 1951, in Heemstede, a small town in the West Netherlands, he had showed from an early age an appeal in sports. His first love was baseball, but he quickly turned to football and began his career in the second division, with local club Racing Heemstede.

There he was spotted by the great Rinus Michels, then coach of Ajax and later of the national team. Neeskens made his debut with Ajax in 1970, as a right back, a position in which he played until the final of the Champions Cup in 1971, at "Wembley" against Panathinaikos.

From the following season, Michels established him in the midfield, to take advantage of his wonderful technique, combined with his stamina, "steely" mentality, but also his powerful shot. "It was like having two midfielders in one on the pitch," his old team-mate and fellow Ajax legend Sjaiak Swart used to say of him.

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At Ajax, Neeskens was part of the great team that conquered Europe with three consecutive European Cups between 1971 and 1973, captained by Johan Cruyff. He then followed Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels to FC Barcelona. In fact, before even wearing the "blaugrana" jersey, the Catalan press managed to anoint him as "Johan Segon". The second Johan! It was easier to call him that than to pronounce his difficult surname.

He played for Barcelona between 1974 and 1979 (in 233 games, scored 54 goals and won two titles), one of the great legends in the history of Dutch football and one of the most loved foreign footballers in the history of Barcelona.

In 1975-76 he was the first winner of the "Don Balón" award as the best foreign player in the Spanish league.

In 1979 he was transferred to the New York Cosmos, where he played until 1984. There, together with Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto Torres, he won the NASL championship in 1980 and 1982. In six seasons he scored 17 goals in 94 games and was in the best team three times, in 1979, 1980 and 1982. He then played for Groningen, the USL's South Florida Suns, the Kansas City Comets and finished his career in Switzerland, playing for FC Baar and Zug.

In addition to his football intelligence, Neeskens stood out for his long hair, sideburns and tall legs.

Member of the Netherlands national team that was a finalist in the 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cups. He made his debut with the national team in 1970 and made 49 appearances until 1981, scoring 17 times.

In the 1974 final he scored the first goal of the match, with a powerful penalty in the second minute of the match. The fastest goal in the history of the World Cup finals was a fact... He was also part of the team that finished third at Euro 1976.

In 2004, he was named one of the 125 greatest living footballers at a FIFA awards ceremony, and in 2017 he was included in the FourFourTwo list of the 100 greatest players of all time, ranked 64th. A true charm, who formed, together with Johan Cruyff, one of the top "couples" in the history of football.

Always close to football

When he finished his football career, he did not leave football . In 2005 he was appointed assistant coach of the Australian national team under Gus Hiddink.

In 2006, he joined Barcelona's coaching staff as Frank Rijkaard's assistant, but was sacked along with Rijkaard at the end of the 2007–08 season. He later became the manager of the Netherlands B national team until June 2009, when he became Frank Rijkaard's assistant coach at Galatasaray, a job he held until 2010.

In 2004, he was named one of the 125 greatest living footballers at a FIFA awards ceremony, and in 2017 he was included in the FourFourTwo list of the 100 greatest players of all time, ranked 64th.

In recent years, he was based in Switzerland, but traveled around the world for various projects in collaboration with the Dutch football association. One of them, called World Coaches, found him in Algeria in the last few days.

"It is with great sadness that the KNVB has learned of the unexpected death of Johan Neeskens. Johan was one of our greatest. We will miss him very much.

We wish his wife Marlis von Reding , his children Christian, Tamara, Bianca and Armand, his grandchildren Joy and Lovee, relatives and friends a lot of strength to bear this great loss," the Dutch football association said in a statement.

Rest in peace Johan we will remember you forever...