The soccer world continues to mourn the loss of Johan Cruyff, as the Dutch legend died last week at the age of 68.
Cruyff was arguably the greatest influence on the modern game as we know it and the blueprint he perfected at Barcelona has led the the club he used to play for and manage to great success over the last decade in particular.
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Tributes have continued to pour in across the world with the Netherlands paying tribute to him last Friday in their friendly game in Amsterdam against France.
A memorial has been set up at Barcelona’s Nou Camp stadium has now seen over 50,000 people visit it in the past four days.
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On Tuesday the Barcelona first team held a minute’s silence before training and then visited the memorial along with manager Luis Enrique.
A former Barcelona midfielder, Enrique, who led Barca to the treble last season, led the moving tribute to Cruyff.“I think speaking about Cruyff is speaking about football in its maximum expression,” Enrique said. “First as a player, becoming one of the greatest players of all time. Second as a coach, seeing football in a completely different way, a spectacular way. Playing great football with great results and titles. It’s a huge loss for the world of football but especially for all the teams and players who had the opportunity to play with him. Barca is a big example of that.
“I think he has left a great legacy, one that this club will continue. I don’t have any doubt. We will try to keep copying and improving his style of play, which is related not just to results but attacking football. We all support the family in these moments as close as possible. He is a person we all remember and may he rest in peace.”
Click play in the video above to see Barca’s current players paying their respects to Cruyff, plus watch Enrique’s emotional address.
Johan’s son, Jordi, also addressed the memorial and thanked the club for the way in which they’ve paid tribute to his father as people travel from all over to pay their own respects to Cruyff.
Barcelona has revealed extensive plans to honor Cruyff at the El Clasico this Saturday at the Nou Camp where they take on arch rivals Real Madrid.