Ajax set to rename stadium the 'Johan Cruyff Arena'
Tuesday 25 April 2017 19:39, UK
On what would have been the late Johan Cruyff's 70th birthday, Ajax have announced their intention to rename the Amsterdam Arena after their greatest player.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Eredivisie club announced that an agreement to rename the ground the Johan Cruyff Arena had been agreed with the stadium's board, the city's mayor and the alderman of sport.
A worthy tribute to the ex-Netherlands international had been discussed since his death on March 24 2016, and a package of agreements on the governance and ownership of the stadium has had to be agreed in order to change its name.
Amsterdam will also name a street, a square, a bridge and more after Cruyff, who not only won three European Cups and eight league titles with Ajax as a player but also two KNVB Cup's and the Cup Winner's Cup as manager.
His son Jordi Cruyff has stated he is pleased and honoured by the letter of intent to give his father "a worthy tribute", according to the club's statement.
The soon-to-be former Amsterdam Arena was built in 1996 and is the Netherlands' largest stadium; also home to the national team.
Cruyff is one of the greatest players ever to play the game, winning world player of the year three times in the 1970s ahead of an illustrious five-year spell with Barcelona, whom he also managed to European Cup glory in 1992.
