John II died. An absolute football legend has left – Seznam Správy

At the age of 73, Johan Neeskens said goodbye to unsustainable earthly possessions in an environment that he spent his entire life and always fulfilled.

One of the biggest figures of not only Dutch football but also world football has died. “As boys we played football in the street and we chose who we wanted to be. Who wants to be Cruyff? Who wants to be a van Haneg? I wanted to be Johan Neeskens,” national team coach and former defender Ronald Koeman praised him. He called Neeskens “a little man who was his big idol”.

The two Johans first entered the hall of fame in the 1970s Ajax Amsterdam and then the Dutch national team, which until then was suffering from uncertainty and an unprofessional status. Cruijff (born in 1947) and Neeskens, four years younger.

When he came to Ajax from his hometown in 1970 Heemstedea town in the north of the country with 30 thousand inhabitants, Cruijff was already a big star. Ajax had already experienced the first major final of the European Champions Cup in 1969 against the Italian AC Milan. Unsuccessful.

Together they were able to bring the club to the throne, for three years (1971-1973) he ruled European and world football. Cruijff was a genius, Neeskens instead of a fighter who supported him in exceptional ways. He was nicknamed Johan II. “It doesn’t offend me at all,” he wasn’t bothered by the position of the second man in the order. “On the other hand, it is an honor to stand right behind the king,” he found in her, on the other hand, recognition and praise.

They walked through football life together. In Ajax, in the Dutch national team, in Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ They were referred to as brothers, even twins, but this designation was somewhat lame given the four-year age difference.

However, they were very close to each other.

Under the leadership of coach Rinus Michels – and with the great support of František Fadrhonce from Nymburk, the founder of total football – they led the Netherlands (then officially the Netherlands) to their first major success in the history of the Cup of the World 1974 in the Federal Republic. Germany: In the final, they lost to the home team 1:2.

The cooperation on the field was very good. And not only them, the whole team is full of great people. “The rally is what it’s all about,” explained Neeskens of the Dutch team’s success. “You need each other on the field. You can only be champions as a team. There’s only one star and that’s the team,” he said.

Doubts that the team would not have reached the finals without Johan remain in the form of speculation. But it stands on a solid foundation. They were helping each other, helping each other, connecting with each other.

As in the final in Munich. Already in the first minute, Cruijff escapes, he is brought down in the penalty area. Punishment! However, Neeskens stands by her. He has already converted two in the group stage against Bulgaria, confidently setting the ball even against the idol of the home goalkeeper Seppa Maier. “We believed in him, there was no doubt that it would change,” Cruijff did not hide his confidence.

He sends the Bavarian goalkeeper to the other side with a sharp shot, the Dutch team develops a ladder to the football heavens. He does not climb them, the German “Emperor” Franz Beckenbauer and his subjects, led by the gunner Gerd Müller, are against him.

However, the Dutch have won the hearts of fans from all over the planet for their enjoyable game. Cruijff polishes the third Ballon d’Or for the best footballer in Europe, Johan II. with five goals – he scored in the semi-final group against GDR and, together with Cruyff, destroyed the defending champions Brazil – he will be the second best scorer in the competition after Grand Duke Grzegorz Lato’s six goals from Poland.

In the national team, Neeskens has 17 correct shots from the midfielder position. Almost a third of the 1974 World Cup money.

The much-loved Dutch team is making up for it after losing the 1976 European Championship final in Yugoslavia. However, the Czechoslovak team stands against the victory in the semi-finals in the rain in Zagreb. An obstacle for football demigods, nothing, easily overcome.

But the choice of coach Václav Ježek has moral strength and football quality. Cruyff is not doing well. Neeskens is even sent off in the 76th minute after a brutal kick on Zdenek Nehoda in sensitive areas. “It didn’t even surprise me,” Czech legend Antonín Panenka recalls of the gruesome procedure. “Neeskens was a fighting type, he wasn’t afraid of tough confrontations, he looked at for them,” he points to his opponent.

However, the brutality of the procedure greatly changed his reputation as a tough but fair fighter. “The Dutch underestimated us and were frustrated when the game went badly for them,” explained Panenka. “We were leading, but then Jaro Pollák was sent off, we scored an own goal , but we resisted,” he explains the course of the semi-final. “Neeskens couldn’t do it mentally,” said the 1976 European champion.

However, he noticed the harmony between the Johans. “They put it together,” says Panenka. “What Cruijff lacked in genius, Neeskens gave him, ie fight,” he explains. “They were the leaders of the team when the game was stopped, for example before kick-off penalty, so they consulted on how to play,” explained Panenka.

However, another prestigious coronation eclipsed the unique Dutch generation. After losing 1:3 against Czechoslovakia in the semi-final, she was left with only bronze, when she beat Yugoslavia 4:2 in the match for third place.

Already 1978 World Cup in Argentina pages to protect Johan II coinage. alone, without a king. The amazing duo who are now spreading the glory of the Catalan club FC Barcelona are breaking up.

Cruijff explains that he needs to rest after a challenging season, to heal the wounds collected from a hard fight. Only after a long time will he reveal the real reason – political. He refuses to support the totalitarian regime of the military junta of General Jorge Videla.

The team, weakened by their excellent leader, reaches the finals again, where they lose again to the home team, this time in extra time with co- ratio of 1:3. It is directed by Neeskens, who at the age of 27 is at the peak of his powers and has become the biggest personality.

He no longer scores goals, he no longer takes penalty kicks, where forward Rob Rensenbrink replaces him and changes four, setting the pace of the game, leading his co- beats, putting them up. John II assumes the role of monarch. Unfortunately, his team is only receiving money again.

Two missed attempts at becoming world champion made him regret it until the end of his career. “We were so close,” he always sighs when he remembers the lost finals. “But isn’t it a shame to be second in the world!” he finally accepts the coins from the positive side.

King Johan I left the earthly life in 2016. Now Johan II followed him.