Wim Suurbier had been hospitalized since suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in April.
Former Ajax right back Wim Suurbier, an important member of the Netherlands side that played in two World Cup finals, died on Sunday.
He was 75.
Suurbier had been hospitalized since suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in April.
In the latter stages of his career, Suurbier spent eight years in the United States, first performing with the Los Angeles Aztecs (1979-81) and the San Jose Earthquakes (1982) in the North American Soccer League before playing for the Golden Bay Earthquakes (1982-83) and Tampa Bay Rowdies (1986-87) in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
He also coached in the U.S. for a dozen years as an assistant with Golden Bay in 1983, before taking on positions with the Tulsa Roughnecks, Los Angeles Heat, Rowdies, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Miami Sharks and St. Petersburg Kickers.
Suurbier played in the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals in which the Dutch lost to Germany and Argentina, respectively.
“A great Ajax player is no more. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends,” Ajax said on Twitter. “509 matches for Ajax 1 [first team] … Rest in peace, brave warrior.”
He was an attacking right back whose role epitomized the “Total Football” style pioneered by the Ajax and Dutch national teams.
Suurbier made 60 appearances for the Netherlands, scoring three goals.
