Sports entrepreneur Henny Cruijff, brother of Johan, died

In Amsterdam, Henny Cruijff has died at the age of 78. He was the two-year older brother of soccer player Johan Cruijff and for many years the owner of sports store Smit-Cruyff on the Elandsgracht in Amsterdam.

Like his little brother, Cruijff played for years in Ajax’s youth teams, but never broke through as a professional footballer. In 1968 he took over the sports store from his brother Johan.

By his own account, Henny Cruijff had very little contact with Johan in the last few years, before his brother died. According to Henny, this was because the legendary footballer’s surroundings were “hermetically sealed.”

Henny is the father of presenter, model and fashion designer Estelle Cruijff. She was married to Ruud Gullit for some time.

For the last eight years, Cruijff suffered from Alzheimer’s, from which he eventually died. He will be buried privately this week, AT5 and NH News write.