Johan Cruijff

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"Cruyff" redirects here. For Johan Cruyff's son, see Jordi Cruyff.

Personal information
Johan Cruijff

Full name	Hendrik Johannes Cruijff
Date of birth	April 25, 1947
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nickname	El Flaco (The Skinny One) Pythagoras In Boots El Salvador (The Saviour) Jopie
Position	Playmaker
Club information
Current club	Retired
Youth clubs
1959–1964	Ajax Amsterdam
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1964–1973 1973–1978 1979 1980–1981 1981 1981–1983 1983–1984	Ajax Amsterdam FC Barcelona Los Angeles Aztecs Washington Diplomats Levante UD Ajax Amsterdam Feyenoord	229 (190) 143 (48) 27 (14) 32 (12) 10 (2) 36 (14) 33 (11)
National team
1966–1978	Netherlands	48 (33)
Teams managed
1986–1988 1988–1996	Ajax Amsterdam FC Barcelona
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (Johan Cruijff (help·info)) - often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands; see IJ (digraph)); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager/coach and former star player, regarded as one of the greats of the game. Named three times European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, 1974) and European Player of the Century by the IFFHS in 1999, he was a silky exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed by his coach Rinus Michels.

He has been named as one of the best football players of his generation, alongside Maradona, Garrincha, Pelé, and Franz Beckenbauer, although he did not win a cup or tournament with his national team.

Cruijff was also highly successful as manager of Ajax and FC Barcelona; he still remains as an influential advisor to Barça and Ajax. He was voted European player of the century by the IFFHS ahead of Franz Beckenbauer.

1 Style of Play
2 Career
3 Miscellany
4 Number 14
5 Quotes
- 5.1 By Cruijff himself
- 5.2 About Cruijff
6 External links

[edit] Style of Play

As a player, Cruijff was known for his technical ability: his mesmeric ball skill, speed and acceleration, the ability to change direction at will and his tactical insights make him one of the most gifted footballers of all time.

He also perfected a move called the "Cruijff Turn". To do this move, Cruijff would look to pass or cross the ball. However, instead of kicking it, he would drag the ball behind his planted foot with the inside of his other foot and dribble away.

Cruijff was at the center of Total Football. Although he was fielded as centre forward, he wandered all over the pitch, popping up wherever he could do most damage to the opposing team. His teammates adapted themselves flexibly around his movements regularly switching positions, so that the tactical roles in the team were always filled, although not always by the same person.

Total Football received widespread attention during the 1972 European Cup final against Internazionale, in which Cruijff scored twice for Ajax [1]; this victory prompted Dutch newspapers to announce the demise of the Italian style of defensive football in the face of Total Football.

[edit] Career

[edit] Professional

Cruijff played successively for Ajax, FC Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante UD and Feyenoord.

At the pinnacle of his professional playing career, he won the European Cup three times (consecutive titles from 1971-1973 with Ajax), which earned the club the right to keep the trophy. He also won the Ballon d'Or (European Player of the Year) three times (1971, 1973 - 4).

At the age of 32 he signed a lucrative deal with the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). He had previously been rumoured to be joining the New York Cosmos but the deal did not materialise. He did however play in a couple of exhibition games for the Cosmos. He stayed at the Aztecs for one season, finishing as the NASL's Most Valuable player of 1979. The following season he moved to the capital to play for the Washington Diplomats, he played the whole 1980 campaign for Washington, leaving soon after the start of the '81 season.

[edit] International

As a Dutch international he played 48 matches, in which he scored 33 goals. In his second Dutch national team match, a friendly against Czechoslovakia, Cruijff was the first Dutch international ever to receive a red card, and be sent off. He received a suspension from the Dutch KNVB.

Cruijff led the Netherlands to a runners-up medal in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and was named the player of the tournament. Thanks to his team's mastery of Total Football, they coasted into the final, knocking out Argentina (4-0), East Germany (2-0) and Brazil (2-0) along the way. Cruijff himself scored twice against Argentina in one of his team's most dominating performances, then he scored the second goal against Brazil to knock out the defending champions. Accusations of Cruijff's 'aloofness' were not rebuffed by his habit of wearing a shirt with only two white stripes along the sleeves, as opposed to Adidas' usual design feature of three, worn by all the other Dutch players.

The Netherlands faced hosts West Germany in the final. Cruijff kicked off and the ball was passed around the Oranje thirteen times before returning to Cruijff, who then went on a rush that eluded Berti Vogts and ended when he was fouled by Uli Hoeness inside the box. Teammate Neeskens scored from the spot kick to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead, and the Germans had not even touched the ball. Only during the latter half of the final was his playmaking influence stifled by the effective marking of Berti Vogts, while Franz Beckenbauer, Uli Hoeness and Wolfgang Overath dominated the midfield, enabling West Germany to win 2-1.[2]

Cruijff retired from international football in October 1977, despite helping his national team qualify for the upcoming World Cup. He refused to participate in the tournament finals in Argentina because it had suffered a military coup only two years earlier and he refused to play in a country where torture and murder were continuing to be perpetrated by the junta.[3] The Netherlands emerged runners-up again that year and some believe that the outcome could have been different had Cruijff played.

[edit] As a manager

After retiring from the game, Johan Cruijff followed in the footsteps of his mentor Rinus Michels. He lacked formal coaching qualifications, but he caught the eyes of brass when he came down from the stands during a Dutch league game and started handing out unsolicited advice to Ajax coach Leo Beenhakker. Ajax were down 3-1 to FC Twente at that moment, but ended up winning the game 5-3.^{[citation needed]}

Cruijff would go on to manage two football clubs, Ajax and Barcelona. He coached Ajax to victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1987.

Cruyff returned to Barcelona as manager in 1988, assembling the so-called Dream Team. He introduced players like Josep Guardiola, José Mari Bakero, Txiki Beguiristain, Goikoetxea, Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Romário and Hristo Stoichkov. This team won La Liga four times between 1991 and 1994 and beat Sampdoria in both the 1989 European Cup Winners' Cup final and the 1992 European Cup final at Wembley. They also won a Copa del Rey in 1990, the European Super Cup in 1992 and three Supercopa de España. With 11 trophies, Cruyff has been the club's most successful manager to date as well as being the club's longest serving manager. However, in his final two seasons, he failed to win any trophies and fell out with Josep Lluís Nuñez. This resulted in his departure and he vowed never to coach again.

While at Barcelona, he was in negotiations with the KNVB to manage the national team for the 1994 World Cup, but talks broke off at the last minute.[4]

His open support helped candidate Joan Laporta to victory in FC Barcelona's latest presidential elections. He continues to be an adviser for him, although he holds no official post at FC Barcelona right now, sparking controversy about his real role and influence.

[edit] Miscellany

Cruijff used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day prior to undergoing double heart bypass surgery in 1991 while he was the coach of FC Barcelona, after which he gave up smoking and began chain-sucking Chupa Chups lollipops instead. He also led the anti-smoking campaign developed by the Health Department of the Catalan government.

In November 2003 Cruijff invoked legal proceedings against the publisher Tirion Uitgevers, over its photo book Johan Cruijff de Ajacied, which used photographs by Guus de Jong. Cruijff was working on another book, also using De Jong's photographs, and claimed unsuccessfully that Tirion's book violated his trademark and portrait rights.

In 2004 he ended sixth place in the election of De Grootste Nederlander (The Greatest Dutchman).

The Dutch Supercup is named after him: Johan Cruijff-schaal.

On 22 July 2006, Cruijff made a surprise return to the football field, in the opening match of the new Emirates Stadium, a testimonial match for Arsenal and Dutch international player Dennis Bergkamp. Cruijff, Marco van Basten, and Bergkamp are often considered by critics and fans to be the three greatest Dutch players of their respective generations.

Cruyff is revered at Nou Camp for his successful career as player and coach. He quickly won over the Barça fans when he told the European press he chose Barça over Real Madrid because he could not play for a club associated with Franco. He further endeared himself when he chose a Catalan name, Jordi, for his son.

His son, Jordi Cruyff, has played for teams such as FC Barcelona (while his father was manager), Manchester United and Alaves. Interestingly, the younger Cruyff sports "Jordi" on his shirt to distinguish himself from his famous father.

Cruyff won the European Cup as a player and coach, one of the few to do so. His son Jordi was a Manchester United player when they won the Champions League in 1998-99, but despite featuring in some of the early matches, he had been out on loan during their final run-in to the historic treble.

In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of the Netherlands by the Royal Netherlands Football Association as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years. [5]

On May 22, 2006 Cruijff was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to football by Laureus in their annual World Sports Awards. [6]

Cruijff also received a lifetime achievement award from the KNVB in August 2006 [7] [8]

[edit] Number 14

Johan Cruijff was unusual and unique when it came to wearing his shirt number, normally the no.10 will be associated with the main attacker or play maker. However Cruijff became famous wearing the number 14 jersey. Cruijff wore the number 14 shirt for the first time on 30 October 1970 in the match versus PSV Eindhoven. He made his comeback as a sub after a groin injury and the shirt he was wearing before (no.9) was already in use by Gerrie Mühren. Ajax won the match 1-0 and Cruijff would play in the first team the next match. Although it was very uncommon in these days to not play with numbers 1 to 11 for the starters of a game Cruijff kept playing with the number 14, which became inseparable since, even with the Dutch National team.[9]

In fact; there has even been a documentary on Johan titled ' nummer 14'[10] and in his native Holland there is a magazine by Voetbal International titled 'nummer 14' [11]

[edit] Quotes

[edit] By Cruijff himself

During his career Cruijff also became a national phenomenon on account of his comments. His expressions are considered as phrases of such simple, stark logic that it either qualifies as sheer brilliance or ultimate cheesiness. It has become cult in the Netherlands, where his form of speech was dubbed "Cruijffiaans" (eng: Cruyffian). His influence on the Spanish language has been subject of the documentary En un momento dado released in 2004. Some examples:

"Football is simple, but the most difficult thing is to play simple football."
"You are as valuable as the time you are on TV"
"Italians can't beat us, but we certainly can lose against them." (Italianen kunnen niet van ons winnen, maar we kunnen wel van ze verliezen.)
"Without the ball, you can't win." (Zonder de bal kun je niet winnen.)
On the Teamgeist football for the 2006 FIFA World Cup: "A ball is an essential part of the game." (Een bal is een essentieel onderdeel van het spel.)
"Speed is often confused with insight. If I start running earlier than the others, I appear to be faster." (Snelheid wordt vaak verward met inzicht. Als ik eerder ga lopen dan de rest, lijk ik sneller.)
"Before I make a mistake, I don't make that mistake." (Voordat ik een fout maak, maak ik die fout niet.)
"Every disadvantage has its advantage." (Elk nadeel heb z'n voordeel.)
"To win you have to make one more goal than your opponent." (Om te winnen moet je 1 doelpunt meer scoren dan je tegenstander.)
"I'm not religious. In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before they enter the pitch. If it worked, it would always be a draw." (Ik geloof niet. In Spanje slaan alle 22 spelers een kruisje voordat ze het veld opkomen, als het werkt, zal het dus altijd een gelijkspel worden.)
"Coincidence is logical." (Toeval is logisch.)
"And if you score, then it's in." (En als je scoort, dan zit ie erin.)
On Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi: "Look, actually he can't play football at all. He's just always in the right position." (Kijk, eigenlijk kan ie helemaal niet voetballen. Hij staat alleen altijd op de goeie plek.)
On moving from Ajax Amsterdam to Barcelona: "I don't want to be a thief of my own wallet." (Ik wil geen dief van mijn eigen portemonnee zijn.)
"You never see a Dutchman excel in a sport like weightlifting. It's apparently not in our nature to lift weights. We're just too lazy. But we did sail every sea and we excel in hockey, football and volleyball. Being just a little bit smarter helps. Dutch people have the edge there." (Je ziet nooit een Hollander die uitblinkt in krachtsporten. Het zit kennelijk niet in onze mentaliteit om te gaan gewichtheffen. Dat kunnen we niet opbrengen. Je ziet wel dat we alle zeeën bevaren hebben. En in hockey, volleybal en voetbal staan we bovenaan. Dus: waar ligt het gaatje en hoe kom je er? Iets slimmer zijn dan een ander. Hollanders hebben een streepje voor.)
"Extremes, I don't like them. Every extreme is so extreme" (Uitersten, daar hou ik niet van. Elk uiterste is iets waanzinnigs.)
"People say that life is like a stream. They are right. I recently tried to spit into the wind, and I spat in my own face" (Het leven is een stroom zeggen de mensen. Dat klopt. Toen ik laatst tegen de wind in wou spuwen, spoog ik mezelf in het gezicht.)
"When I drive a car, I keep one hand on the wheel. The other is reserved for different tasks." (Wanneer ik in een auto rijd, hou ik één hand op het stuur, de andere is gereserveerd voor andere taken)
"Often something in life is probably necessary." (Vaak heeft iets in het leven waarschijnlijk een noodzaak)
"When I come home after a sport analysis and my wife asks, 'What did you say?' I'll reply, 'I have absolutely no idea whatsoever.'" (Als ik thuiskom van een televisieanalyse, vraagt mijn vrouw: Wat heb je gezegd? Dan zeg ik: Al sla je me dood)
"Orange is a happy colour." (Oranje is een blije kleur)
"If it isn't going well, then it isn't going well" (Als het niet goed gaat, dan gaat het niet goed)
"Dancing is more fun on one foot. Give them a football and voila!" (Dansen is leuker op één voet. Geef ze een voetbal en een voila!)
"The greatest minds do math, the next-best write books. Dancers are the greatest ones with their feet, next are footballers." (De slimsten doen aan wiskunde, die daarna schrijven boeken. Dansers zijn het slimst met voeten, daarna komen de voetballers.)
"I never wear trousers to church. I don't have anything to hide from God." (Ik draag nooit een broek als ik naar de kerk ga. Ik heb niks te verbergen voor God.)

[edit] About Cruijff

"He was the better player, but I won the World Cup" — Franz Beckenbauer
"Pelé was the best, but after him comes Johan. He is the best player Europe ever produced" — Franz Beckenbauer
"He is the best player I have ever seen." — Ron Atkinson [12]
"Maradona was absolutely the best player I have ever played with - but Johan Cruyff was the best player I ever played against" — Mario Kempes [13]
"I think along with Johan Cruyff, Pelé is the best player I have ever played against, and with Diego Maradona, the best players I have ever seen." — Alan Ball [14]
"Johan Cruyff was my idol. He is the best player I have seen in my lifetime" — Michel Platini
"I loved the Dutch in the '70s, they excited me and Cruyff was the best. He was my childhood hero; I had a poster of him on my bedroom wall. He was a creator. He was at the heart of a revolution with his football. Ajax changed football and he was the leader of it all. If he wanted he could be the best player in any position on the pitch." — Éric Cantona [15]

Preceded by Ljupko Petrovic	European Cup Winning Coach 1991-92	Succeeded by Raymond Goethals
Preceded by Gerd Müller	European Footballer of the Year 1971	Succeeded by Franz Beckenbauer
Preceded by Franz Beckenbauer	European Footballer of the Year 1973	Succeeded by retained
Preceded by current holder	European Footballer of the Year 1974	Succeeded by Oleg Blokhin

	Netherlands squad - 1974 FIFA World Cup
1 Geels \| 2 Haan \| 3 van Hanegem \| 4 van Ierssel \| 5 Israël \| 6 Jansen \| 7 de Jong \| 8 Jongbloed \| 9 Keizer \| 10 R. van de Kerkhof \| 11 W. van de Kerkhof \| 12 Krol \| 13 Neeskens \| 14 Cruijff \| 15 Rensenbrink \| 16 Rep \| 17 Rijsbergen \| 18 Schrijvers \| 19 Strik \| 20 Suurbier \| 21 Treytel \| 22 Vos \| Coach: Michels