Arnesen leads tributes to pioneer of total football

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.

Michels, who will be remembered as the man who pioneered 'total football', passed away in a hospital in Aalst, Belgium, after complications resulting from heart surgery two weeks ago.

Known as the 'Sphinx' in his homeland, he led Holland to the 1974 World Cup final where they were defeated by Germany, while he was also manager when the Dutch claimed the 1988 European Championship - the country's only major trophy.