Just hours after football legend Johan Cruijff’s death was announced, his childhood home in Amsterdam became a shrine as a steady stream of Amsterdammers turned up to pay their respects to the fallen legend.

‘I was shocked when I heard,’ said local man Kaas Ruyter (55). ‘First the bombings in Belgium and now the death of a local hero. It’s been a rough week.’

Throughout the evening, the bundles of flowers continued to pile up outside Cruijff’s home in the working-class Betondorp neighbourhood. It was here, a stone’s throw away from Ajax’s old De Meer stadium, that he first showed the talent that would permanently change modern football.

‘He was a hero to me when I was growing up’ said Ronald Klapwijk. Ronald (53) and his son Bram (13) stopped by Cruijff’s home on the way home from Bram’s football training.

Cruijff’s career began with Ajax in 1964, where he won the European Player of the Year award in 1971, 1973 and 1974, and helped the club to eight Dutch and three European titles.

Style

‘He was three years older than me, and I remember coming to watch him play,’ said Ineke Dozel (65). ‘His style was amazing to see.’

Cruijff was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015, and remained confident that he could beat the disease. ‘Right now, I have the feeling that I am 2-0 up in the first half of a match that has not finished yet. But I am sure that I will end up winning,’ he said in February.

‘I was shocked to hear the news,’ said Ineke. ‘We all thought he was getting better.’

Down to earth

Journalist Mark Fuller remembers meeting Cruijff when he was managing Ajax in the 80s. ‘He was a really nice guy to everyone,’ Mark recalled. ‘I was writing for a small magazine at the time and he didn’t make a fuss about that, he gave the same time to everyone.’

‘He had a great sense of confidence. For a little guy he would be shouting to the bigger players, telling them what to do…but he was really down to earth, friendly and open, and a family man too.’

In Betondorp, mourners remained at Cruijff’s former home as rain began to fall. As well as flowers, they laid down Ajax jerseys, scarves and footballs, and lit candles in remembrance of the Dutch sporting icon.

A campaign has now begun to have Ajax Arena stadium in Zuidoost renamed the Johan Cruijff stadium in honour of the city’s football hero.