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| managerclubs = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Ajax Amsterdam]]<br>{{flagicon|Spain}} [[FC Barcelona]]
| managerclubs = {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Ajax Amsterdam]]<br>{{flagicon|Spain}} [[FC Barcelona]]
}}
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'''Hendrik Johannes Cruijff''' ({{audio|JohanCruiff.ogg|Johan Cruijff}}) - often spelled '''Cruyff''' outside the Netherlands; see [[IJ (digraph)]]); born [[April 25]], [[1947]] in [[Amsterdam]]) is a [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[football (soccer)|football]] manager/coach and former player. A gifted and talented player, he was voted [[European Footballer of the Year]] three times (1971, 1973, 1974), and was considered the embodiment of the football philosophy known as [[Total Football]].
'''Hendrik Johannes Cruijff''' ({{audio|JohanCruiff.ogg|Johan Cruijff}}) - often spelled '''Cruyff''' outside the Netherlands; see [[IJ (digraph)]]); born [[April 25]], [[1947]] in [[Amsterdam]]) is a [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[football (soccer)|football]] manager/coach and former player. A brilliant and tempestuous star and widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time; he has been named a record number three times [[European Footballer of the Year]] (1971, 1973, 1974) and he was a silky exponent of the football philosophy known as [[Total Football]], developed by [[Rinus Michels]].


In 1999, he was voted European player of the Century in an election held by the [[IFFHS]], and was voted second in IFFHS' World Player of the Century election behind [[Pelé]]. Cruijff was voted third (behind [[Pelé]] and [[Maradona]]) in a vote organised by the French weekly magazine [[France Football]] when they elected the Football Player of the Century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html |title=The Best x Players of the Century/All-Time |work=Article on rsssf.com |accessdate=March 18|accessyear=2007}}</ref>
Cruijff was also highly successful as manager of [[Ajax Amsterdam|Ajax]] and [[FC Barcelona]]; he still remains as an influential advisor to Barça and Ajax. In 1999, he was voted European player of the Century election held by the [[IFFHS]] ahead of [[Franz Beckenbauer]] and was voted second in IFFHS' World Player of the Century election behind [[Pelé]]; Cruijff was voted third, behind [[Pelé]] and [[Maradona]], in a vote organised by the French weekly magazine [[France Football]] consulting their former [[Ballon D'Or]] winners to elect the Football Player of the Century [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html]


==Style of Play==
⚫
He also famous for perfecting a move called the "[[Cruijff Turn]]" - Cruijff would look to pass or cross the ball, but instead of kicking it, he would drag the ball behind his planted foot with the inside of his other foot and turn through 180 degrees, before accelerating away.
If Holland were the team that gave the world Total Football, then Johan Cruijff was the Total Footballer. Cruijff was one of a number of youngsters who emerged with Ajax of Amsterdam in the late Sixties and came to dominate European and world football in the early Seventies.


Cruijff was the most outstanding of them all and was widely seen as the natural successor to [[Pelé]] as the world's greatest player. 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.
Cruijff was also highly successful as manager of [[Ajax Amsterdam|Ajax]] and [[FC Barcelona]]; he is still an advisor to both clubs.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} Cruijff won the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] as both player and coach, one of the few to do so.


Strictly speaking, Cruijff played centre forward in this system. But he would drop deep to confuse his markers or suddenly move to the wing with devastating effect. No one had seen a centre forward like that before.
⚫
==Playing career==
As a player, Cruijff was known for his technical ability; his ball skill, speed and acceleration, the ability to change direction at will and his tactical insights made him one of the most gifted footballers of all time.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} His greatest quality was vision, based on an acute sense of his team-mates' positions as an attack unfolded.{{Fact|date=March 2007}} His team-mates 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.{{Fact|date=March 2007}}


⚫
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 turn through 180 degrees and accelerate away outside a bemused defender..
⚫
The sports writer David Miller believed Cruijff superior to any previous player in his ability to extract the most from others. He dubbed him "[[Pythagoras]] in boots" for the complexity and precision of his angled passes and wrote: "Few have been able to exact, both physically and mentally, such mesmeric control on a match from one penalty area to another."{{Fact|date=March 2007}}


But his greatest quality was vision, based on an acute sense of his team-mates' positions as an attack unfolded.

⚫
The sports writer David Miller believed Cruijff superior to any previous player in his ability to extract the most from others. He dubbed him "[[Pythagoras]] in boots" for the complexity and precision of his angled passes and wrote: "Few have been able to exact, both physically and mentally, such mesmeric control on a match from one penalty area to another."

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.

⚫
==Playing career==
Cruijff played for [[Ajax Amsterdam|Ajax]], [[FC Barcelona]], [[Los Angeles Aztecs]], [[Washington Diplomats]], [[Levante UD]] and [[Feyenoord Rotterdam|Feyenoord]].
Cruijff played for [[Ajax Amsterdam|Ajax]], [[FC Barcelona]], [[Los Angeles Aztecs]], [[Washington Diplomats]], [[Levante UD]] and [[Feyenoord Rotterdam|Feyenoord]].


Revision as of 18:28, 21 March 2007

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Johan Cruyff
File:JohannCruijff.jpg
Personal information
Full name Hendrik Johannes Cruijff
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward/Playmaker
Team information
Current team
 Retired

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (Johan Cruijffⓘ) - often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands; see IJ (digraph)); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager/coach and former player. A brilliant and tempestuous star and widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time; he has been named a record number three times European Footballer of the Year (1971, 1973, 1974) and he was a silky exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed by Rinus Michels.

Cruijff was also highly successful as manager of Ajax and FC Barcelona; he still remains as an influential advisor to Barça and Ajax. In 1999, he was voted European player of the Century election held by the IFFHS ahead of Franz Beckenbauer and was voted second in IFFHS' World Player of the Century election behind Pelé; Cruijff was voted third, behind Pelé and Maradona, in a vote organised by the French weekly magazine France Football consulting their former Ballon D'Or winners to elect the Football Player of the Century [1]

Style of Play

If Holland were the team that gave the world Total Football, then Johan Cruijff was the Total Footballer. Cruijff was one of a number of youngsters who emerged with Ajax of Amsterdam in the late Sixties and came to dominate European and world football in the early Seventies.

Cruijff was the most outstanding of them all and was widely seen as the natural successor to Pelé as the world's greatest player. 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.

Strictly speaking, Cruijff played centre forward in this system. But he would drop deep to confuse his markers or suddenly move to the wing with devastating effect. No one had seen a centre forward like that before.

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 turn through 180 degrees and accelerate away outside a bemused defender..

But his greatest quality was vision, based on an acute sense of his team-mates' positions as an attack unfolded.

The sports writer David Miller believed Cruijff superior to any previous player in his ability to extract the most from others. He dubbed him "Pythagoras in boots" for the complexity and precision of his angled passes and wrote: "Few have been able to exact, both physically and mentally, such mesmeric control on a match from one penalty area to another."

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.

Playing career

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

Ajax

Cruijff joined Ajax on his tenth birthday. He made his first team debut on 15 November 1964 in the Eredivisie, against GVAV, scoring the only goal for Ajax in a 3-1 defeat. That year Ajax finished in their lowest position since the establishment of professional football, 13th.[citation needed] Cruijff really started make an impression in the 1965-1966 season. Cruijff established himself as a regular first team player after scoring two goals against DWS in the Olympic stadion on 24 October 1965 (in a 2-0 victory). In the seven games that winter he scored eight times and in March 1966 he scored the first 3 goals in a league game against Telstar (6-2 win). Four days later, in a cup game against BV Veendam (7-0 win), he scored 4 goals.[citation needed] In total that season, Cruijff scored 25 goals in 23 games, and Ajax won the league championship.

In 1966-1967 Ajax again won the league championship, but also won the KNVB Cup, for Cruijff's first "double". Cruijff ended the season as the leading goalscorer in the eredivisie with 33.

Cruijff won the league for the third successive year in the 1967-1968 season. He was also named dutch footballer of the year for the second successive time, a feat he would repeat in 1969.[citation needed] On 28 May 1969 Cruijff played in his first European Cup final against AC Milan, but the Italian team ended up winning 4-1.

In the 1969-1970 season Cruijff won his second league and cup "double", but at the beginning of the 1970-1971 season Cruijff suffered a long-term groin injury. He made his comeback on 30 October 1970 against PSV Eindhoven. In this game he did not wear his usual number 9 which was in use by Gerrie Mühren, but instead used number 14. Ajax won the game 1-0. Although it was very uncommon in those days for the starters of a game not to play with numbers 1 to 11, from that moment onwards Cruijff's number was 14, even using the number with the Dutch national team.[1] There has even been a documentary on Cruijff titled Nummer 14 Johan Cruijff[2] and in his native Holland there is a magazine by Voetbal International titled "Nummer 14".[3]

In a league game against AZ '67 on 29 November 1970 Cruijff scored no less than six goals in an 8-1 victory. After winning a replayed KNVB Cup final against Sparta Rotterdam (2-1), Ajax won in Europe for the first time. On 2 June 1971 in London they won the European Cup by defeating Panathinaikos 2-0. In spite of speculation that Cruijff would move to another club (Feyenoord and Barcelona were interested) on 12 July 1971 he signed a seven-year contract at Ajax.[citation needed] At the end of the season he became not only the Dutch, but also the European footballer of the year for 1971.

1972 was a particular successful year for Ajax and Cruijff. Ajax won a second European Cup, beating Internazionale 2-0 in the final, with Cruijff scoring both goals. This victory prompted Dutch newspapers to announce the demise of the Italian style of defensive football in the face of Total football. Soccer: The Ultimate Encyclopaedia says: "Single-handed, Cruijff not only pulled Internazionale of Italy apart in the 1972 European Cup Final, but scored both goals in Ajax's 2-0 win." Cruijff also scored in the 3-2 victory over FC Den Haag in the KNVB Cup final. In the league Cruijff was the topscorer with 25 goals as Ajax became champions. In the autumn Ajax won the Intercontinental Cup beating Argentina's Independiente (1-1 and 3-0) and then in January 1973 they won the European Super Cup by beating Glasgow Rangers 3-1 away and 3-2 in Amsterdam. Curiously Cruijff's first (and last) own goal came on 20 August 1972 against FC Amsterdam. A week later against Go Ahead Eagles (6-0) Cruijff scored four times for Ajax. The 1972-1973 season was concluded with the another league championship victory and a third successive Europe Cup.

In the summer of 1973 Cruijff was sold to FC Barcelona for 6 million guilder (2.5 million Euros).

Barcelona

At Barcelona, Cruijff 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.

During his time at Barcelona Cruijff scored one of his most famous goals, The 'Phantom' Goal. In a game against Atlético Madrid Cruijff leapt into the air and kicked the ball past the Madrid goalkeeper, the goal was featured in the documentary En un momento dado in which fans of Cruijff attempted to recreate that moment, the goal has been dubbed Le but d'Imposible de Cruyff (The Impossible goal of Cruijff).

America

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. However, he did play exhibition games for the Cosmos. He stayed at the Aztecs for only one season, but was voted NASL Player of the year in that time. The following season he moved to play for the Washington Diplomats; he played the whole 1980 campaign for Washington, leaving soon after the start of the 1981 season.

Back in the Netherlands

File:1984 Feyenoord Kampioen Cruijff.jpg
Cruijff celebrating the 1984 Eredivisie title with Feyenoord Rotterdam.

After his spell in the USA and a short-lived stay at Levante in Spain Cruijff returned to play in his homeland. One noteable incident from this era was a famous goal he scored against Helmond Sport in 1982 while playing for Ajax. Cruijff put the ball down as if it is a routine penalty kick, but instead of shooting at goal, Cruijff nudges the ball sideways to his Ajax teammate Jesper Olsen who in return passes it back to Cruijff who simply taps the ball into the empty net, as the bemused Helmond goalkeeper looks on. This goal was famously attempted by Arsenal team mates Robert Pires and Thierry Henry, who both failed miserably against Manchester City in 2005, though Cruijff defended Henry and Pires for attempting.

International football

As a Dutch international he played 48 matches, scoring 33 goals. In his second Dutch national team match, a friendly against Czechoslovakia, Cruijff was the first Dutch international to receive a red card. He received a one-year suspension from the Dutch KNVB.

Cruijff led the Netherlands to a runners-up medal in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and was voted the player of the tournament.[4]

Cruijff retired from international football in October 1977, having helped the 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 he believed torture and murder to be perpetrated by the junta.[5] Without him, the Netherlands finished runners-up in the World Cup again.

Managerial career

Ajax

After retiring from playing, Cruijff followed in the footsteps of his mentor Rinus Michels, coaching a young Ajax side to victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1987, In 1988 he returned to Barcelona as manager.

Barcelona

At Barcelona Cruijff brought in players such as Josep Guardiola, José Mari Bakero, Txiki Beguiristain, Goikoetxea, Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Romário and Hristo Stoichkov. Under Cruijff, Barcelona 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.

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.

With 11 trophies, Cruijff has been Barcelona'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 chairman Josep Lluís Nuñez; this resulted in his departure from the club, 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 finals, but talks broke off at the last minute.[6]

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.

Cruijff is revered at Nou Camp as 'El Salvador' (The Saviour) for his successful career as player and coach.

Career honours

As a player:

Ajax:
Barcelona:
Feyenoord:
  • 1984 Dutch League Champion
  • 1984 Dutch Cup Champion

As a manager:

Ajax:
Barcelona:
  • 1990 Spanish Cup Champion
  • 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Spanish League Champion
  • 1989 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Champion
  • 1992 European Cup Champion

Further honours

In 1996 the Dutch Supercup was named after him: Johan Cruijff-schaal.

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.[7]

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

Cruijff also received a lifetime achievement award from the KNVB in August 2006.[8][9]

Outside football

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).

Family

On 2 December 1968 Cruijff married Danny Coster. Johan and Danny have 3 children: Chantal (16 November 1970), Susila (27 January 1972) and Jordi (9 February 1974). The family lives in Barcelona.

His son, Jordi, has played for teams such as FC Barcelona (while his father was manager), Manchester United and Alaves. Interestingly, the younger Cruijff sports "Jordi" on his shirt to distinguish himself from his famous father (this also reflects the common Spanish practice of referring to players by given names alone or by nicknames).

References

  1. ^ "What's in a name?". Article on Cruijff.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Nummer 14 Johan Cruijff". Film page on IMDb.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Nummer 14". Nummer14.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Germany 1974". Article on FIFAWorldCup.yahoo.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "1978 - Argentina: Argentina delight home crowds". Article on Reuters.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Johan Cruyff". Profile on FIFAWorldCup.yahoo.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Golden Players take centre stage". Article on UEFA.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Kuijt receives Dutch accolade". Article on UEFA.com. Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Huntelaar weer twee prijzen rijker". Article on Ajax.nl (Dutch). Retrieved March 18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
Wikiquote has quotations related to Johan Cruyff.
Preceded by European Cup Winning Coach
1991-92 		Succeeded by
Preceded by European Footballer of the Year
1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by European Footballer of the Year
1973 		Succeeded by
retained
Preceded by
current holder
 European Footballer of the Year
1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Dutch Sportsman of the Year
1973 – 1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Dutch Eredivisie Topscorer
1966-1967 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Dutch Eredivisie Topscorer
1971-1972 		Succeeded by

Template:WTTC

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