Gerard Pique recalled how his father ‘raved about Johan Cruyff,’ the former Barcelona player and Coach who has died aged 68.
Cruyff passed away from cancer, it was confirmed on Thursday, leading to tributes to an iconic player and trainer from across football.
“We’ve very affected and it’s sad news. We all know what Johan is for Barca, for all Barca fans,” Pique said, Mundo Deportivo reports.
“He came as a player and stood out a lot, one of the best in history. I never saw him but my father raved about him.
“And as a Coach he changed the history of the club. We are what we are now largely thanks to Johan Cruyff.”
Pique added that his earliest memory of Cruyff as Barca Coach is the 1992 European Cup claimed by La Blaugrana, their first.
“Barca’s first European Cup is one of the earliest memories I have from when I was five and I remember Ronald Koeman’s goal.
“Then I was lucky to have him in the Catalan representative team and it was a pleasure, although obviously there weren’t a lot of days.”
