Football: Ajax legend Suurbier dies at 75

Wim Suurbier made 509 appearances for Dutch club from 1964 to 1977

By Emre Asikci

ANKARA (AA) - The Dutch football club Ajax announced Monday that legendary defender Wim Suurbier died at the age of 75.

"A great Ajax player is no more. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends," Ajax said on Twitter.

"As a right-back, he became an important pillar of Ajax's Total Football and the Dutch national team in the golden 1970s," the club said on its website.

Having represented Ajax in 509 games, Suurbier helped the club win three European Champion Clubs' Cup, two UEFA Super Cup titles, one Intercontinental Cup, seven league titles and four Dutch Cup titles.

Making 60 appearances for his nation, Suurbier played in both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups in which the Netherlands finished second.

The Dutch legend had been in intensive care in an Amsterdam hospital since suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in April.

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