Ajax have renamed Amsterdam ArenA the Johan Cruyff ArenA on late icon’s 70th birthday
Club legend passed away just over 12 months away and touching tribute to his brilliance has been finalised
AJAX have renamed the Amsterdam ArenA the Johan Cruyff ArenA on what would have been the late icon's 70th birthday.
The club legend - who won three European Cups while playing for the side - passed away just over 12 months ago after battling cancer.
And now his first team have paid a fitting tribute to his enduring brilliance by honouring the ground in his name.
Ajax announced the change today following an agreement with the club's board, the mayor of Amsterdam and the chief of sports and recreation in the city.
Cruyff has been immortalised for the introduction of "total football", pioneered by Ajax and Holland - who reached the 1974 World Cup final.
It was with him in the side that Ajax won eight Eredivisie titles and one Intercontinental Cup.
Later a boss of the club - who currently sit second in the table behind Feyenoord - he led them to Uefa Cup Winners' Cup glory in 1987.
Barcelona, for whom Cruyff played for five years and led to four La Liga titles, also honoured the star.
Most read in football
Ajax said in a statement: "The parties are convinced that in this way justice is done to the memory of Johan Cruyff, and express the hope that the Johan Cruyff ArenA is an inspiration for players from all over the world."
In addition, a street, square, bridge or other feature of the Dutch capital will be named after Cruyff.