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Dutch WC finalist Wim Jansen dies at 75

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Wim Jansen (r), the former Feyenoord, Ajax and Netherlands midfielder, has died aged 75.
Camera IconWim Jansen (r), the former Feyenoord, Ajax and Netherlands midfielder, has died aged 75. Credit: AP

Wim Jansen, a member of the brilliant Dutch team of the Seventies, cherished for their 'Total Football', has died aged 75.

The midfielder, who lost World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, later became a manager winning titles with Feyenoord and Celtic.

Dutch club Feyenoord, whom he joined as a boy, announced the death and called Jansen "one of the greatest to ever play for the club."

Jansen was a key part of the Feyenoord team that became the first Dutch club to win the European Cup, the forerunner of the Champions League, in 1970. Four years later, he captained the club to victory in the UEFA Cup.

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"Feyenoord is my life," Jansen once said. He played 476 times for the Rotterdam club, scoring 39 goals.

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Jansen also played briefly for the Washington Diplomats and Ajax, Feyenoord's biggest rival. He made his debut for Ajax against Feyenoord and was hit in the eye by a snowball thrown by a fan.

He played 65 internationals, including the 2-1 loss to West Germany in the 1974 World Cup final and the 3-1 loss to Argentina in the final four years later

Feyenoord credited Jansen with turning the club around as coach in the early 1990s, winning the Dutch Cup in 1991 and the league title in 1993.

He worked in Belgium, Saudi Arabia and Japan, but had his most memorable season with Celtic. Appointed in 1997 he led the Glasgow club to their first title in ten years, ending a nine-year run by rivals Rangers.

He also won the League Cup and was responsible for signing club legend Henrik Larsson.

Jansen had been living with dementia in recent years and Feyenoord's statement said: "Although the intense sadness of course predominates, Jansen's family is at the same time relieved that he has been spared a long agony. The family is pleased that their Wim has been able to keep control until the last moment."

Dutch great Johan Cruyff once called Jansen "one of only four men in the world it's worth listening to when they talk about soccer," Dutch broadcaster NOS reported.

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