The Dutch legend Johan Cruyff has lung cancer, his spokeswoman has said. “He has been in hospital this week for tests and lung cancer has been confirmed,” said Carole Thate.

The 68-year-old, who won three successive European Cups with Ajax before going on to play for and manage Barcelona, was diagnosed on Tuesday.

A statement on his official website said the cancer had been discovered following recent tests in Barcelona.

“Over the past weeks, Johan Cruyff has been undergoing medical examinations at a hospital in Barcelona. During these examinations, lung cancer has been uncovered. The examinations are still ongoing,” the statement said.

“To respect the privacy of Johan and his family, and the fact that the examinations have not been finalised, further announcements cannot be made at the moment.”

Formerly a heavy smoker, he had double heart bypass surgery in 1991 while he was still in charge of Barcelona, a role he eventually left in 1996.

Barça’s vice-president Susana Monje, who was giving a financial presentation on Thursday, sent a message of support from the club. “We have had contact with his manager Carole Thate and she confirmed to us that Johan indeed has lung cancer,” read a statement from Ajax director and former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

“On behalf of the club I wish Johan and his family a lot of strength and a speedy recovery. “

In his prime, Cruyff was considered one of the world’s greatest players in the world at a time when Pelé, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer could all lay claim to the title.

He was European Footballer of the Year in 1971, 1973 and 1974 and part of the mould-breaking team that won three European Cups in 1971, 1972 and 1973 – a side that provided the foundation for Holland’s Total Football revolution when their coach Rinus Michels took over the national side in 1974.

Cruyff moved to Barcelona in 1973 and won the league title the following year. That same year, 1974, Holland reached the World Cup final where they were defeated by West Germany.

Four years later Cruyff moved to the United States where he played for the Los Angeles Aztecs and the Washington Diplomats the following year. He finished his career in the Netherlands with two more seasons with Ajax and one with Feyenoord.

Cruyff took over as manager of Ajax in 1985 but it was his return to Barcelona in 1988 that brought him success as a coach, the “Dream Team” winning four league titles, the European Cup and a Copa del Rey and devising the swift passing possession that later became known as tiki-taka.

Since leaving Barça in 1996 he has had various minor roles in the game and acts as an adviser to Ajax, a spell notable for his successful attempt to block his fellow directors from appointing Louis van Gaal to the board by taking them to court.