Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Johan Neeskens (born September 15, 1951) was a the
Netherlands|Dutch football (soccer)|football
player and now manager. He part of the Netherlands
national football team|Holland side that finished
as runner-ups in the Football World Cup 1974|1974
and Wc|1978s.

Neeskens started his career at RCH Heemstede in
1968, before being spotted by Rinus Michels and
signed for Ajax in 1969. The youngster impressed
at right-back, playing in that position for Ajax
in the 1971 European Cup Final win against
Panathinikos. During the 1971-72 season, Neeskens
took up more of a central midfield role, in
support of Johan Cruyff, but was equally adept in
central defence. Ajax completed a hatrick of
European Cup wins in 1972 and 1973, and Neeskens
moved on to FC Barcelona in 1974 to join Cruyff
and Michels. While his time at FC
Barcelona|Barcelona was relatively unsuccessful
(one league title and the 1979 Cup Winners Cup),
he was hugely popular amongst the fans. In 1979,
he accepted an offer from the New York Cosmos,
spending 5 years at the club. Winding down his
career, he also played for  FC Groningen
(1984-85), Fort Lauderdale Sun (1986-87), FC Baar
(1988-90) and  FC Zug in Switzerland, finally
hanging up his boots in 1991.

Neeskens was capped 49 times for his country,
scoring 17 goals. He made his debut against East
Germany national football team|East Germany, and
played a crucial role in the Football World Cup
1974|1974 and Wc|1978s, playing in central
midfield and providing crucial goals. Indeed,
Neeskens scored the opening goal in the Football
World Cup 1974|World Cup Final against West
Germany national football team|West Germany,
scoring after only 80 seconds. However, this
wasn't enough for victory, losing out 2-1 to the
hosts. Four years later, Neeskens was a crucial
player for the Dutch, in the absence of Cruyff,
despite injury. Netherlands national football
team|Holland again reached the final, only to lose
to the hosts, this time Argentina national
football team|Argentina, going down 3-1. He played
his final international game in 1981 in a 2-0
defeat against France national football
team|France in a qualifier for the 1982 Football
World Cup|1982 World Cup.


Neeskens was named by Pelé as one of the FIFA
100|top 125 greatest living footballers in March
2004.