Calcutta/Amsterdam: Johan Cruyff, one of soccer's greatest players and most influential and visionary coaches, died aged 68 on Thursday, after a battle with lung cancer. His death was announced on his website.

Cruyff was the genius behind 'total football'. A colossus of the game, he dominated European and world football in the 1970s and was seen by many as the natural successor to Pele.

As tributes started pouring in from a shocked football fraternity, legend Bobby Charlton described him as '"unique" and said "he loved the game, he loved sport and he loved life". Former French captain Marcel Desailly, who along with Charlton is a Laureus legend, said: "We have lost a true legend of football".

Following are excerpts (alphabetically)

Xabi Alonso: The '14' will never be the same. RIP Johan Cruyff.

Franz Beckenbauer: He was certainly the best footballer Europe has produced. I'm shocked. He was not only a good friend but like a brother to me.

Eric Cantona: I loved the Dutch in the 1970s, they excited me and Cruyff was the best... He was at the heart of a revolution with his football. Ajax changed football and he was the leader of it all. If he wanted, he could be the best player in any position on the pitch.

Bobby Charlton: I was proud to have known Johan. He was one of those great, great footballers that made you excited whenever he got the ball and began to play. There was always expectation in the crowd when Johan was on the pitch. There wasn't a negative thought in his head. He loved the game, he loved sport and he loved life.

He was the genius behind total football, one of the greatest. You would put him in the same class as Pele, Di Stefano and Maradona. The kind of football he played changed the game and still has an impact today.

A real football brain. He had superb control, he was inventive and he could perform magic with a ball to get himself out of trouble instinctively.

Ronald de Boer: He was the best footballer we ever had.

Marcel Desailly: This is a very sad day when we have lost one of the true legends of football. The word great is often overused, but not when you talk about Johan Cruyff. When I and my friends were young footballers growing up and looking at how we wanted to play the game, you would always look at him and say - he's the best.

The Total Football that he played with Ajax, Barcelona and Holland was revolutionary and excited a generation of players and fans. As a coach with Barcelona, he laid the foundations for the greatness of that club today.

Luis Figo: He was a real visionary and you can see that nowadays, almost 15 years later, he's still ahead of most of people in football. I've learnt a lot with him.

Pep Guardiola: Johan Cruyff painted the chapel, and Barcelona coaches since merely restore or improve it. He has had the biggest influence on football out of anyone in the world, first as a player and then as a coach.

Ruud Gullit: He had it all - vision, attitude, presence. He was also very flexible, so when opponents tried to kick him he would always anticipate what was about to happen and move just in time. Defenders couldn't touch him. He would be the provider for the main striker but was a prolific goalscorer himself too.

Alan Hansen: Cruyff in his prime, especially in that World Cup [1974] was up there with the best of them.

Gianni Infantino: Johan Cruyff was a magnificent player, one of the greatest players the world has ever known. A symbol of elegant play. An inspiration. A source of admiration for fans. He has marked football history for ever.

Ronald Koeman: I played under great coaches like Guus Hiddink and Rinus Michels, but Cruyff shades it for me. An inspirational figure, he always wanted something more from his teams - for him, it wasn't enough just to win; success had to be achieved in a manner that would be remembered and discussed for years.

Mark Lawrenson: He was an absolute genius. He just played the game at his own pace, which I think at that level is fantastic.

Joan Laporta (former Barcelona president): Johan was innovative and a breath of fresh air. It was an extraordinary feeling, and he touched a lot of people.

Gary Lineker: Sad to hear that Johan Cruyff has died. Football has lost a man who did more to make the beautiful game beautiful than anyone in history.

Diego Maradona: We will never forget you, mate.

Pele: Johan Cruyff was a great player and coach. He leaves a very important legacy for our family of football. We have lost a great man.

Michel Platini: Cruyff, he was the best player of all time.

Sergio Ramos: Goodbye to one of the legends in the history of football

Frank Rijkaard: He is like the godfather of Dutch football.

Romario: I had the privilege of having him as a coach when I played at Barcelona. He was, without doubt the greatest coach I had, his teachings were be eternally with me. He knew better than anyone how to take advantage of what every member of the team did best and he knew my skill was scoring goals.

Peter Schmeichel: One of the greatest players ever, a true giant in our game.

Marco van Basten: I think the person I learnt the most from as a coach was Cruyff because he was always talking about tactics - how to play, where to play and when to play. I think that helps a lot of young players. He was the most important trainer for me.