Ajax to rename their stadium on first anniversary of the death of football legend Johan Cryuff
The Amsterdam Arena to be renamed the Johan Cruyff Stadium on March 24
AJAX will rename their stadium in honour of Johan Cruyff, according to reports in the Netherlands.
The Dutch giants are set to rename the Amsterdam Arena the Johan Cruyff Stadium on March 24 next year - to mark the first anniversary of his death.
Dutch newspaper AD reports that the Cruyff family, the city of Amsterdam and the club have all agreed to the renaming.
Cruyff, a three time winner of the Ballon d'Or, died of cancer earlier this year.
However, one significant obstacle remains - the possibility of sponsorship.
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The Cruyff family want assurances that the stadium will not carry the name of a major sponsor later, like Arsenal (Emirates Stadium), Bayern Munich (Allianz Arena) or countless others across the continent.
The stadium is not directly owned by the club, so all stake holders must agree.
The city owns 48 per cent of the stadium, which was built for €140million and opened in 1996.
A further 13 per cent is owned by private investors who helped get the stadium built, with the final share (38 per cent) owned by the club.
Barcelona are also planning to honour the Dutch master when they redevelop the Nou Camp.
Possible proposals include naming a new mini-Stadium at the training complex after him, renaming part of the refurbished Nou Camp after Cruyff, or building a statue of him.
Cruyff is considered one of the greatest footballers ever.
He won eight Eredivise titles and the European Cup in three consecutive seasons in his first spell with Ajax.
He then moved to Barcelona in the mid-1970s, winning La Liga.
Cruyff and the Rinus Michels Netherlands team of that era are credited with playing some of the best football ever seen, with their 'Total Football' approach seeing them reach the final of the World Cup in 1974.
Cruyff, who famously wore the No 14 jersey, later led Feyenoord to the Dutch title at 37.
After retirement, Cruyff became a managerial pioneer.
Not only did he win two more titles with Ajax and four with Barcelona, as well as the Champions League, Cruyff set up Barcelona's famed La Masia academy.
His style and penchant for attacking football has been copied the world over, with Pep Guardiola his most prominent disciple.