Johan Cruyff dies aged 68

Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff has died aged 68.
Cruyff, born Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, passed away in his adopted hometown of Barcelona, Spain on Thursday (24Mar16), after a battle with lung cancer.
News of his death was announced in a post on his official website which read, “On March 24 2016 Johan Cruyff (68) 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.”
The sporting legend, who kicked a heavy smoking habit after undergoing heart surgery in 1991, revealed he had been diagnosed with the disease in October last year (15).
Widely regarded as one of the finest soccer players of all time, Cruyff made his name as a soccer player with Amsterdam, Holland soccer club AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team.
His skills, including the famous ‘Cruyff turn’ soccer move named in his honour, helped Ajax win three consecutive European Cups in the early 1970s and his country reach the final of the 1974 World Cup.
He won Europe’s top individual soccer honour, the Ballon D’Or, three times and also enjoyed success with Spanish club FC Barcelona.
After ending his playing career in 1984, Cruyff stayed in the sport as a manager, and won the European Cup with Barcelona in 1992.
In the wake of his death some of soccer’s biggest names paid tribute to the Dutchman, including current Barcelona star and reigning Ballon D’Or winner Lionel Messi, who wrote on Twitter, “RIP Johan Cruyff. Your legacy will live on forever.”
England player turned TV presenter Gary Lineker also paid his respects on the social media site, posting, “Sad to hear that Johan Cruyff has died. Football has lost a man who did more to make the beautiful game beautiful than anyone in history.”
Others from the world who paid their respects to Cruyff included former Barcelona captain Xavi, as well as ex-England stars Chris Waddle and Michael Owen.
Cruyff is survived by his wife Danny, his son Jordi and daughters Susila and Chantal.