Giorgos Koudas was very affected by the news:

«It is with profound sadness that I extend my condolences to his loved ones. Johan Cruyff was much more than a football great. He was an extraordinary character as I ascertained in the dinners that would follow international games back then.

«We faced each other when he played for Ajax and Barcelona and also in Greece-Netherlands encounters. From our first meetings, we got to discuss issues regarding our teams but personal stuff as well. I remember him not being able to comprehend why Greek football wasn’t professional back then.

«Despite being a world class star, he acknowledged the value of his rivals. Apart from his football skills, it was his character and ethos that made him the man he was.

Stavros Sarafis was PAOK’s captain in the encounter against Barcelona. He told paokfc.gr:

«He was Europe’s greatest player back then. His quality and talent were simply unbelievable. We are in a different football era now, but I don’t think that he has been ever replaced. Cruyff was just fantastic. I consider myself lucky to have played against that great player. I am very sad for his passing, may he rest in peace. He will never be forgotten by the world football family. We will always remember him.