BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Johan Cruyff of Catalunya coaches his players during the international friendly match between Catalunya and Argentina at the Camp Nou stadium on December 22, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff suffering from lung cancer

One of the greatest soccer players and greatest soccer minds ever Johan Cruyff has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Cruyff learned of this diagnosis over the past week and is undergoing further tests. This comes a little over a week after it was revealed that German great Gerd Muller has Alzheimer’s disease.

Johan Cruyff was one of the first adopters of the “Total Football” concept that led the Netherlands to a runner up finish in the 1974 FIFA World Cup against Muller’s West Germany. Cruyff also won the Ballon d’Or three times as a player and three European Cups playing for Dutch team Ajax.

After winning the La Liga title at Barcelona and a spell in the United States in NASL, Cruyff went into management and brought “Total Football” with him. His biggest achievement as manager was his eight year run at Barcelona. Barcelona won four straight La Liga titles as well as the 1992 European Cup. This wound up being Barcelona’s renaissance that stands to this day.

Cruyff’s former teams acknowledged and expressed their support for Cruyff for a full recovery.

(Translated to “Very startled, we have taken note of the serious illness of Johan Cruyff. Our thoughts are with Johan, his wife and family.”)

(Translated to “Ajax is deeply impressed with all the messages of support for Johan Cruyff. Huge thanks everyone.”)

As someone who holds both Johan Cruyff and Gerd Muller in high regard and as personal idols of mine, I would like to personally express that they are in my thoughts and wish them both the best.

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp

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