A fond farewell

The football community mourned the loss of a number of cherished figures during 2005. Rinus Michels, the inventor of Total Football; Ferruccio Valcareggi, who led Italy to success at the 1968 UEFA European Championship; Lucien Laurent, the first man to score a FIFA World Cup goal; and legendary forward George Best were just four of the game’s greats who sadly passed away during the course of the year.

'The greatest coach'
"He was the greatest coach Dutch football ever had," Royal Netherlands Football Association [KNVB] president Mathieu Sprengers said following the death of Michels, aged 77, in March. Under Michels AFC Ajax and the Netherlands developed their own footballing brand, Total Football, instantly recognisable for its attacking invention. Michels led Ajax to the first of three straight European Champion Clubs' Cups in 1971, and later coached the Netherlands to the 1974 FIFA World Cup final and victory at the 1988 UEFA European Championship, their greatest international successes.

'Outstanding contribution’
Michels laid the foundations for the great Dutch coaches of today and fittingly his legacy will be seen at the FIFA World Cup in Germany where no fewer than four Dutchmen will lead teams in the final tournament. "Not only the KNVB but also the European football family has lost a personality who devoted a large part of his life to our sport," UEFA President Lennart Johansson said. "We will always remember him for his outstanding contribution to our game."

Valcareggi remembered
There was sadness too for the loss of a legend in Italy where Valcareggi died aged 86 on 2 November. Valcareggi coached the Azzurri between 1966 and 1974, guiding them to the European title in 1968 then the final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. Italy went down 4-1 to Brazil in the final after one of the most memorable games in footballing history, their 4-3 win against West Germany in the semi-finals. Under Valcareggi, the Azzurri lost just six times in eight years. "He was a champion as a human being," Italy great Gianni Rivera said. "Everyone in the side had a fantastic relationship with him. That's why that national team was probably the best loved ever by Italian fans."

Best of memories
Also in November, Northern Ireland and Manchester United FC fans joined together in tribute to striker George Best who died in London aged 59 after a long battle with alcoholism. Belfast-born Best was widely regarded as the greatest player to come from the United Kingdom, his dazzling skills inspiring United's 1968 European Champion Clubs' Cup triumph and earning him the European Footballer of the Year award. Perhaps Best's greatest achievement, though, was uniting a divided community with fans from both sides of the great Northern Irish divide worshipping him.

Haynes loss
Laurent, the first man to score a FIFA World Cup goal, passed away at the age of 97 on 12 April. The former French international made history by breaking the deadlock in the opening game of the 1930 World Cup - a 19th-minute strike in the 4-1 win against Mexico in Uruguay. Football will also mourn the loss of England and Fulham FC striker Johnny Haynes, who died tragically in a car crash on 18 October a day after celebrating his 71st birthday. Known as 'the Maestro' during his time at Craven Cottage, Haynes rejected moves to bigger clubs and was rewarded when he became the first English player to earn £100 a week in 1961. Omar Sivori, the legendary Juventus FC forward and 1961 European Footballer of the Year, also passed away aged 69.

Also remembered:

Ronnie Burgess, Wales and Tottenham Hotspur FC

Domiciano Barrocal Gomes Cavém, Benfica SL and Portugal

Noel Cantwell, Republic of Ireland and Manchester United FC

Jemal Chimakadze, FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi coach

David Cluett, Floriana FC and Malta

Hugo Cunha, UD Leiria

Kader Firoud, Nîmes Olympique SC and France

Toni Fritsch, SK Rapid Wien, Dallas Cowboys and Austria

Sigfrid Gràcia, FC Barcelona and Spain

Suad Katana, KSC Lokeren OV and Bosnia-Herzegovnia

Bill McGarry, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and England

Yuriy Morozov, USSR and FC Zenit St. Peterburg

Frits Philips, PSV Eindhoven

João Santos, SL Benfica

Gavril Stoyanov, PFC CSKA Sofia and Bulgaria

David di Tommaso, FC Utrecht

Lajos Baróti