WATCH: The day Wolverhampton referee Jack Taylor brought legend Johan Cruyff to book

Never one to shirk a decision, Taylor pointed to the spot when West Germany's Uli Hoeness upended the Dutch master, although Bertie Vogts, pictured above, was covering.

It was the first time a penalty had ever been awarded in a World Cup final, and famously came before the Germans had even touched the ball in Munich. Jack went on to give another penalty in that game and famously booked Cruyff at half-time.

Widely regarded as the best official this country has ever produced, Taylor's performance in that memorable match between West Germany and Holland has gone down in history.

"It was clear cut in my opinion," he told the Express & Star back in 2010, two years before his death.

"It wasn't in everybody's opinion of course, particularly the Germans, but I was quite happy with it."

Almost as famous as that decision was the yellow card he brandished to Cruyff as the teams walked off the pitch for half-time.

West Germany had already turned the game on its head and went into the break 2-1 up – a lead they wouldn't relinquish – thanks to Gerd Muller's goal two minutes before the break.

The Dutch master was furious with the man from Wolverhampton, and reeled off a volley of abuse in Dutch.

Unbeknownst to him, Taylor had been taught some handy Dutch phrases by his linesman before the game, so when Cruyff launched his expletive-laden tirade in his native tongue, Jack knew exactly what he was being called.

Ignoring reputations, Taylor booked the world's best player there and then, proving once more that he was the calmest man on the pitch in what was a tense, feisty affair.

Not only did Taylor award the first ever penalty in a World Cup final, but in the 25th minute of that match he awarded the second one too, when Bernd Hölzenbein was tripped in the Dutch area.

Paul Breitner dispatched the spot-kick in typical German fashion to level the game up.

"What really does annoy me is the suggestion that I gave (the second penalty)to even things up," said Taylor.

"It was a trip or an attempted trip and the laws of the game are that's a penalty."

Taylor died of pneumonia at his home in Shifnal in July 2012.

He had a career spanning more than 30 years, officiated more than 1,000 matches including over 100 international fixtures, and curiously for a referee, was a popular figure among fans and players alike.

He was inducted into the FIFA Hall of Fame in 1999 and in 2013 became the first referee inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

Cruyff was European Footballer of the Year three times, a unique talent on the pitch and a genius coach off it. He passed away this week, aged just 68, and now both of them are gone.

But back on that hot day in July 1974 the pair came together in front of 75,000 people at the Olympiastadion in Munich, each man at the peak of his respective field.

One kept his cool and the other saw yellow.