Historical Figure
Johan Cruyff
1947–2016
Dutch footballer and manager (1947–2016)
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Biography
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, internationally known as Johan Cruyff, was a Dutch professional football player and manager. Regarded as one of the greatest players in history and as the greatest Dutch footballer ever, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football developed by Rinus Michels, which Cruyff also employed as a manager. Because of the far-reaching impact of his playing style and his coaching ideas, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern football, and he is also regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.
In Their Own Words (5)
In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender.
reported in Ramón Calderón's Newsweek.com column (24 March 2016). , 2016
Sadly, they played very dirty. This ugly, vulgar, hard, hermetic, hardly eye-catching, hardly football style... If with this they got satisfaction, fine, but they lost.
Criticising the Dutch team's play in the 2010 World Cup final, in BBC Sport (12 July 2010). , 2010
I like technical players who can also think in terms of the team's interests. I've already mentioned Iniesta and Xavi, who disprove entirely the theory that only physically strong footballers with a lot of running ability can play in their positions.
reported in Johan Cruyff (2016). My Turn: The Autobiography. , 2016
We [Barça] are a unique club in the world, no one has kept their jersey intact throughout their history, yet have remained as competitive as they come. (...) We have sold this uniqueness for about six percent of our budget. I understand that we are currently losing more than we are earning. However, by selling the shirt it shows me that we are not being creative, and that we have become vulgar.
Cruyff criticises club's shirt sponsorship deal with Qatar Foundation (Goal.com, 22 April 2011). , 2011
4-5-1? Never. It was always 4-3-3 for me as a player and as manager, just like [Frank] Rijkaard at Barcelona. With 4-3-3, it's much easier to make combinations going forward. With only one forward, who is he going to pass to? Who is he going to make combinations with? Football is about having the best offensive play possible. I always like to play offensive football and nobody will convince me otherwise.
In an interview with Lawrence Donegan of The Guardian (1 October 2005). , 2005
Timeline
The story of Johan Cruyff, told in moments.
Born Hendrik Johannes Cruyff in Amsterdam. Grew up 200 meters from Ajax's old stadium, De Meer. His mother worked as a cleaner at the club after his father died. He joined Ajax's youth academy at 10.
Leads Ajax to the first of three consecutive European Cups. He wins the Ballon d'Or that year. His signature move, the Cruyff Turn, fakes a cross and cuts the ball behind his standing leg. Defenders don't see it coming.
Captains the Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup final against West Germany. The Dutch play "Total Football," where every player can take any position. They score before Germany touches the ball. They lose 2-1.
Manages Barcelona to their first European Cup, beating Sampdoria 1-0 at Wembley in 1992. His "Dream Team" wins four consecutive La Liga titles. He builds the youth academy philosophy that produces Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi.
Dies of lung cancer in Barcelona. He was 68. He'd smoked heavily for decades, quit after a heart bypass in 1991, and often spoke about it afterward. Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium names a section after him.
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