TOTTENHAM sporting director Frank Arnesen has hailed Rinus Michels as one of the greatest characters in Dutch football following the death of the former national team boss yesterday at the age of 77.

Holland coach Marco van Basten today led the tributes to Rinus Michels, the man who pioneered "total football", who has died at the age of 77.

Former Holland coach Rinus Michels, who pioneered ‘total football’ and led the country’s national team to their only major trophy in 1988, has died at the age of 77.