TOMMY GEMMELL PAYS TRIBUTE TO JOHAN CRUYFF

LISBON LION Tommy Gemmell has paid tribute to Holland legend Johan Cruyff who died today at the age of 68.
  
The Celtic great faced the Ajax and Barcelona superstar on a few occasions and played alongside him for a Rest Of Europe Select in a Testimonial Game for Benfica icon Mario Coluna in Lisbon in the late sixties.

Gemmell said: “I was asked to select my all-time world eleven of opponents for my autobiography, ‘All The Best’, a couple of years ago and I didn’t have to think twice about naming John Cruyff in that elite line-up.

“His was one of the first names that came to mind. If that guy had a weakness I certainly couldn’t detect it.

“He could dribble, he was strong, good in the air, could shoot, had an eye for a pass, was pacy, was fearless. Did I miss anything out?

“I played with and against him and I thought he was incomparable. If my dear old chum George Best enjoyed a snifter, that guy certainly embraced a cigarette.

“I was amazed to discover he could get through eighty to one hundred fags a day. And yet look at how fit he was. He was a phenomenon.

“Maybe I should have taken it up! To be honest, I never thought about smoking as I was growing up. As a confirmed non-smoker, I could never see the allure of shoving a weed between my lips and setting it alight.

“It didn’t do Johan much harm as a player, that’s for sure. But, of course, he went through a triple heart-bypass later on in life.

“I knew he had been diagnosed with cancer late last year, but I thought – and hoped – he had conquered the disease.

“Sadly, even the great Johan Cruyff couldn’t beat that dreaded opponent. He left us all with so many treasured memories, as a player, a manager and, of course, a wonderful human being.

“He will be missed by all and my thoughts are with his family.”

* ‘All The Best’ by Tommy Gemmell was published by CQN Books in 2014 and available from CQN Bookstore