European football mourns Michels
Thursday, March 3, 2005
Article summary
Dutch coaching legend Rinus Michels, the inventor of 'total football', died on Thursday at the age of 77.
Article body
Heart surgery
Michels had been in intensive care following preventive surgery on a cardiac valve. He previously had heart surgery in 1986. Born on 9 February 1928, Michels scored 120 goals in 257 league games for AFC Ajax from 1946-58. He won five Netherlands caps during that time, but it is for his coaching achievements that he will forever be remembered.
European glory
Michels led Ajax to the first of three straight European Champion Clubs' Cups in 1971, and later coached the Netherlands to the 1974 FIFA World Cup final and glory at the 1988 UEFA European Championship. He also claimed a Spanish title with FC Barcelona in 1973/74 and ended his club coaching career with German side Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 1989. He retired after EURO '92.
'Outstanding contribution'
UEFA President Lennart Johansson said: "Rinus Michels was an excellent coach and a great manager. Not only the KNVB [Royal Netherlands Football Association] but also the European football family has lost a personality who devoted a large part of his life to our sport. We will always remember him for his outstanding contribution to our game."
'Sadly missed'
UEFA CEO Lars-Christer Olsson went on: "Rinus Michels dedicated an important part of his life to football and contributed to the game's development and history. We send our sincere condolences to his family and many friends. He will really be sadly missed by the KNVB and by us at UEFA."
'The greatest'
KNVB president Mathieu Sprengers added the following tribute: "For Dutch football, he was the greatest coach we ever had. Rinus managed to get the most impressive results in the history of our game, in 1974 and 1988. He provided the model for the special characteristic that makes the Dutch national team so popular the world over - 'total football'."
Order of Merit
Michels's achievements were recognised by UEFA in April 2002 when he was presented with the Order of Merit award at the XXVI UEFA Ordinary Congress in Stockholm. The award is designed to honour those who have devoted a large part of their life to football and contributed to the game's development and history.
