Johan Cruyff (1947

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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.

Timeline

The story of Johan Cruyff, told in moments.

1947 Birth

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.

Growing up 200 meters from Ajax's stadium. Was destiny that literal? Your mother cleaning at the club after your father died. Was Ajax family?

1971 Event

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.

The Cruyff Turn. Where did that move come from? Three consecutive European Cups. Did winning feel like a mission?

1974 Event

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.

Total Football. Did every player really take any position? Scoring before Germany touched the ball, then losing. Is that your greatest wound?

1988 Event

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.

Building Barcelona's youth academy. Did Messi justify the philosophy? Four consecutive La Liga titles as manager. Was coaching harder than playing?

2016 Death

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.

Quitting smoking after a heart bypass. Why did it take that scare? Camp Nou naming a section after you. Does that feel permanent?

In Their Own Words (20)

I haven't always been understood. As a footballer, as coach and also for what I did after all that. But OK, Rembrandt and Van Gogh weren't understood either. That's what you learn: people go on bothering you until you're a genius.

reported in Johan Cruyff (2016). My Turn: The Autobiography., 2016

Quality without results is pointless. Results without quality is boring.

reported in Leo Messi's Twitter page (24 March 2016)., 2016

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

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

Winning is an important thing, but to have your own style, to have people copy you, to admire you, that is the greatest gift.

reported in Jonathan Wilson (Eurosport, 24 March 2016), Johan Cruyff's legacy? The whole of modern football., 2016