BARCELONA’S board of directors have met to discuss the initiatives that could take place by the club to pay posthumous tribute to the great Johan Cruyff, who died from cancer last week at the age of 68.
A number of suggestions have been put forward such as as erecting a statue at the entrance of the Nou Camp, retiring Cruyff’s famous No 14 shirt number, chanting his name in the 14th minute of every game and merely putting his name on the No 14 door at the ground.
However, renaming the club’s famous stadium in honour of the Dutch master is the supporters’ favoured option.
Catalan sport daily, Sport, reports:
“A ‘thundering cry’ from the Blaugrana faithful is for the famous Nou Camp to be renamed after the Dutch icon who lit it up the stadium as both a player and manager.
“Cruyff won La Liga and Copa del Rey on the pitch with Barca, before collecting a series of titles as boss, including the European Cup in 1992.
“And a strong ratio of Barca’s fans have backed the renaming of their stadium, with 65 per cent, about 8,000 participants, advocating the move in a survey on Sport’s website.”
We think it would be a fitting tribute to the man regarded as the mastermind of Barcelona’s signature passing-based attacking football that has helped them to become the world’s dominant team for the past decade.
Many wonderful players have graced the Nou Camp over the years but none have had such an impact as Cruyff.
Without him, firstly as a player then as a manager, Barca would not have become the footballing institution they now are.
And with renovation work to begin on the famous venue in 2017, it would be a wonderful gesture to the lifetime commitment Cruyff gave to the club and a fitting tribute to the legacy he leaves – not just to Barca – but to the game in general.
Should Barca rename their stadium after Johan Cruyff?
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