Amsterdam Arena Renamed After Dutch Soccer Legend Johan Cruijff

The 54,000-capacity soccer stadium in the Dutch capital Amsterdam will be known as Johan Cruijff Arena once the 2018/2019 soccer season kicks off this summer.

Amsterdam Arena – Amsterdam Arena
Will be known as Johan Cruijff Arena come the next soccer season

Cruijff passed away on March 24, 2016. He was one of the world’s best football players, winning the Ballon d’Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974.
“It is high time to give Johan Cruijff a worthy tribute and achieve the broadly supported wish [former Amsterdam mayor] Eberhard van der Laan has expressed on behalf of the city,” said arena CEO Henk Markerink.

The new logo of the Johan Cruijff Arena will be unveiled on or close to April 25, which is the birthday of the legendary sportsman, who also made a name for himself as football coach. His family released the following statement: “We are pleased with the news and very glad that the stadium will actually be called the Johan Cruijff Arena from next football season on.”

Amsterdam City Council’s alderman of sports Eric van der Burg said the name change honored “our greatest football hero and makes a big dream come true for Eberhard van der Laan.” Former Amsterdam mayor van der Laan passed away last October.

Edwin van der Sar, general manager of Amsterdam’s local team Ajax and a former player himself, said, “Johan Cruijff is the greatest football player that Ajax has ever produced. Partly thanks to him, Ajax is a big name at home and abroad so it’s nice that the stadium is named after him.”

Added Markerink: “As a stadium, we are proud to be able to bear his name. It will resonate globally.”

Pollstar met Markerink last year to talk about the state of business at Amsterdam Arena. He also touched on the Dutch people’s obsession with soccer.