-FILE- In this March 1996 file photo soccer coach Johan Cruyff shouts during a soccer match in Eindhoven, Netherlands. On the day Johan Cruyff would have turned 70, his home city has agreed to name Ajax's stadium after the Dutch football legend. Amsterdam Municipality says it has agreed with the stadium and Ajax to change the name of the Amsterdam Arena to the Johan Cruijff Arena, using the Dutch spelling of the Ajax and Barcelona star, who died last year.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
AMSTERDAM (AP) - On the day Johan Cruyff would have turned 70, his home city has agreed to name Ajax's stadium after the Dutch football great.
Amsterdam Municipality says it has agreed with the stadium and Ajax to change the name of the Amsterdam Arena to the Johan Cruijff Arena - using the Dutch spelling of the Ajax and Barcelona star, who died last year.
Ajax, the stadium's board and Amsterdam say they "want to pay a worthy tribute to the best footballer Amsterdam and the Netherlands have ever known."
The agreement announced Tuesday is expected to be finalized within six months.
Born in Amsterdam, Cruyff was the mercurial driving force behind Ajax and Dutch "total football" in the early 1970s. He went on to become a highly successful player and coach at Barcelona.
-FILE- In this Friday Dec. 7, 2012 image football legend Johan Cruyff puts his Golden Ball award on a display as he officially opens the exhibit entitled Johan & Ik (Johan & Me) at the Amsterdam Museum. On the day Johan Cruyff would have turned 70, his home city has agreed to name Ajax's stadium after the Dutch football legend. Amsterdam Municipality says it has agreed with the stadium and Ajax to change the name of the Amsterdam Arena to the Johan Cruijff Arena, using the Dutch spelling of the Ajax and Barcelona star, who died last year.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
-FILE- In this Wednesday Dec. 7, 2011 image retired soccer player Johan Cruyff waits for judges to arrive in the court room in Haarlem, western Netherlands, where he and his allies tried to block the appointment of Louis van Gaal as Ajax's new director. On the day Johan Cruyff would have turned 70, his home city has agreed to name Ajax's stadium after the Dutch football legend. Amsterdam Municipality says it has agreed with the stadium and Ajax to change the name of the Amsterdam Arena to the Johan Cruijff Arena, using the Dutch spelling of the Ajax and Barcelona star, who died last year.(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press