Feature: Good-bye Cruijff, the unforgettable

The country was in shock, still mourning about the death of a great sportsman the whole nation could identify with, Johan Cruijff -- he received a tribute on Friday.

Soccer legend Cruijff died at the age of 68 on Thursday in Barcelona, after he was diagnosed with lung cancer in October last year. Despite his illness his death came suddenly, leaving a country, a continent, the world, behind in sorrow.

From Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte to fellow soccer greats Diego Maradona, Pele and Lionel Messi, all showed their respect to the late great. National TV and radio changed their schedule for extra broadcastings on Cruijff.

At the Johan Cruijff statue at the Olympic stadium in Amsterdam Ajax fans gathered to remember, at his former home in the Amsterdam neighborhood Betondorp, where he grew up, people spontaneously laid flowers. And at the Amsterdam museum and at the Ajax stadium people could sign a condolence register.

The tribute continued on Friday with all Dutch newspapers dedicating their pages to the greatest Dutch soccer player ever. "Dutch Master", headed Algemeen Dagblad. "Icon of a generation" was the header of Trouw, while De Telegraaf and de Volkskrant had no words and only published a full page picture on the cover with his name: "Johan Cruijff, 1947-2016". Former team mate Jan Mulder called him "The Unforgettable" in a tribute article in de Volkskrant.

Cruijff, or Cruyff to the rest of the world, made his debut as a skinny, little boy at the age of 17, but his talent was eminent. This brilliant elegant boy, "Jopie", could play like no one else. He could pass, score, dribble and lead by example.

This Amsterdam-born kid soon became a national icon and developed into the best player of the world, a tactical and technical genius, winning the Ballon d'Or three times, leading Ajax to nine championships, three European trophies and the Intercontinental Cup, reaching the 1974 World Cup final with the Netherlands and winning the Spanish title with FC Barcelona.

More important than his prizes was his influence. Before Cruijff entered the spotlight the Netherlands were not a big football country at all, with only two participations at major tournaments, the 1934 and 1938 World Cups. Orchestrated by Cruijff and coach Rinus Michels the Netherlands gained international fame in 1974, with a stunning style of football, nicknamed Total Football, with players constantly moving, taking over each other's position.

For a small country that hundreds of years ago was the richest and one of the most influential countries and had come out of World War II in a miserable shape, this was a fact of life. Cruijff changed the national identity, taught people that they could be the best of the world. He gave the Dutch a new identity with what the nation could reach by showing initiative, showing self-confidence, by choosing the attack, by playing as a team.

The same applies to Ajax and FC Barcelona. Cruijff gave these clubs an identity, an image of positive football, innovating football, recognized all over the world.

As a coach Cruijff continued his legacy, his vision at Ajax and later at FC Barcelona. With these clubs he once again collected many trophies. With Ajax he claimed the European Cup Winners Cup in 1987 and he led Barcelona to a period of great successes with among others four league titles and their first European Champions Cup in 1992 with the so-called "Dream Team".

Until now the playing style of Ajax, the Netherlands, FC Barcelona, even Spain, is influenced by him. His vision, his name will live forever. And not only this, with the Johan Cruyff University and the Johan Cruyff foundation and more, his legacy will continue on different levels.

The Dutch Cruijff tribute ended on Friday night with the friendly match between the Netherlands and France in the Amsterdam Arena, which according to many people should be renamed Johan Cruijff stadium from now on. Outside the stadium some people wore a shirt with Cruijff's regular number, 14, and on big screens people got to see old images of Cruijff.

A 52-year-old man, John Derks, watched the images with his wife Sylvia. "He was a legend, a phenomenon," he told Xinhua. "It really hurts. I have seen him play many times and admire him. It's terrible, sorry, I get emotional."

A fewer meters away, a 54-year-old man, Michael Otten made a picture. He would visit the match with his son Wouter. "I am shocked," the man said to Xinhua. "My youth idol had died."

The Netherlands played the match without number 14, to honor Cruijff, and a minute of honor was scheduled in the 14th minute. The game started with a minute of silence for the victims of the Brussels attacks and after that France showed they did not want to give presents on Cruijff's day.

Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring with a free-kick and Olivier Giroud produced the second goal in the 13th minute. This made that the minute of applause started when the Dutch were ready to kick-off after having conceded a second goal. Not the moment all had hoped for and Cruijff had deserved.

The Dutch bounced back in the second half through goals by Luuk de Jong and Ibrahim Afellay, but the match ended with the last word for the only number 14 on the pitch. Blaise Matuidi made it 3-2 for France. Not the magic Cruijff night that everybody had hoped for. From above Cruijff could not influence. But does it matter? The unforgettable will never be forgotten. Endi