Johan Neeskens

Johannes ("Johan") Jacobus Neeskens is an former Dutch football player who featured prominently during the 1970s and the 1980s. He played as a midfielder and is regarded as one of the finest midfielders of all time. He was named by Pele in March 2004 as one of the 125 greatest living footballers. He is currently the head coach of the Dutch B national team.

Johan Neeskens was a very reputed player during his time and featured for European heavyweights Ajax and FC Barcelona and was a hugely important player for both sides during his time at the respective clubs. He won the European Cup thrice in a row with Ajax between 1971 and 1973 and won the Cup Winners' Cup with Barcelona in 1979.

Johan Neeskens made his international debut for the Netherlands against East Germany in 1970 and went onto feature in 49 international matches, scoring 17 goals. He was an outstanding player at the 1974 World Cup finals and scored the opening goal in the final from the penalty spot against West Germany. He was also a crucial player for the Dutch national side four years later in the World Cup finals in 1978. His final match for his nation was against France in 1981 in a 2-0 defeat in what was a qualifier for the 1982 World Cup finals.

Johan Neeskens has been trying his hand at coaching at various levels since his retirement from football. He was the assistant coach of the Dutch national side for the 1998 World Cup finals and the Euro 2000 finals. He subsequently went onto coach Dutch side NEC Nijmegen and was part of the FC Barcelona technical staff for sometime during the Frank Rijkaard era at the Camp Nou.