In hope of ending a dire run of form, Guadalajara Chivas have appointed one of the greatest players and coaches in the history of soccer to act as a consultant to the club.

The arrival of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff was suddenly announced on Thursday night by Chivas owner Jorge Vergara. He will be officially welcomed to the club at a press conference on Saturday morning.

“Bringing Johan Cruyff is like bringing the Pope of football,” boasted Vergara. He hopes that Cruyff will instill a brand of “total football that enables us to be a team like Barcelona, the best in the world.”

One of the greatest footballers of all time, Cruyff, 64, enjoyed huge success as both a player and later manager of Barcelona and Dutch club Ajax. His appointment represents a major coup for Vergara, who has endured strong criticism in recent months as Chivas’ form dipped dramatically.

Famed for his footballing philosophy almost as much as his skills, Cruyff is the godfather of the free-flowing “total football” style that is characteristic of the Spain and Barcelona sides which currently dominate international and club soccer.

While his exact role at Chivas has yet to be defined, the immediate task at hand is simply ending one of the worst spells in the club’s history.

Bottom of the table, with just two points from seven games, Chivas are without a win in 13 games. They have not won at home in over six months and suffered a demoralizing 3-0 defeat to Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield in the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday.

Cruyff will be unveiled at the Omnilife Stadium on Saturday at 11.30 a.m. Fans are free to attend the ceremony.