Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has endorsed Marco van Basten as the club's next coach should Frank Rijkaard leave at the end of the season.

Cruyff refused to say that Rijkaard should leave, insisting: "Rijkaard has a good track record and some fantastic results and Barcelona has again won the sympathy of the football world. He has helped convert the club into an institution again of great football and gentlemanliness."

However, Cruyff didn't hold back when recommending Holland coach Van Basten as Rijkaard's successor: "Van Basten loves good football and his results have been very good. As a player, he experienced life at big clubs, so he wouldn't be nervous about taking over."

Asked about former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, Cruyff added: "No-one has asked me about Mourinho. I don't have close contact with the Barca board. I'd talk to Joan Laporta only two or three times a year."