CBA issues Johan Cruyff coin

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Central Bank of Armenia has put into circulation 20 000 Johan Cruyff silver coins with nominal value of AMD100 in the framework of Football Kings program, the CBA press office said.

Johan Cruyff (born Hendrik Johannes Cruijff on 25 April 1947 in Amsterdam, Netherlands), is a Dutch football manager, former player and President of Honour of FC Barcelona. He has won the Ballon d'Or three times - in 1971, 1973 and 1974 - which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini and Marco van Basten. Cruyff was the most famous exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football explored by Rinus Michels, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He is typically dubbed as one of the four football "Legends" along with Diego Maradona, Alfredo di Stefano and Pele.

After his retirement from playing in 1984, Cruyff became highly successful as manager of Ajax and later Barcelona; he remains an influential advisor to both clubs. His son Jordi has also gone on to play football professionally. In 1999, Cruyff was voted European Player of the Century in an election held by the IFFHS, and came second behind Pele in their World Player of the Century poll. He came third in a vote organized by the French weekly magazine France Football consulting their former Ballon d'Or winners to elect their Football Player of the Century. On 2 November 2009 Cruyff was named as the head coach of the Catalonia national football team in place of Pere Gratacos. This is his first coaching job in thirteen years.