Dutch football icon Neeskens dies | OneFootball

In the 1974 World Cup final against Germany, Neeskens gave the Dutch the lead with a penalty in the second minute.

Cologne – Dutch football icon Johan Neeskens has died at the age of 73. “International football is losing a legend,” the national association KNVB said on Monday. Neeskens died on Sunday in Algeria, where he was active for the association, after previously complaining of feeling unwell.

In the 1974 World Cup final against Germany, Neeskens had already given the Dutch the lead with a penalty in the second minute before the DFB turned the encounter into a 2-1 victory. He also reached the final with Elftal in the 1978 finals. With Ajax Amsterdam, Neeskens won the European Cup three times in the early 1970s.

“Words are insufficient to describe this enormous, sudden loss. Our thoughts are with his wife Marlis, his children, his family and his friends,” said the KNVB.

Photo: © IMAGO / BSR Agency/SID/IMAGO/Cor Mooij / PU / BSR Agency