Johan Cruyff

Name: Johan Cruyff
Birthday: 25 april 1947
Place of Birth: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nicknames: Pythagoras in boots, El Salvador (The Saviour), Jopie
Position: played anywhere but goalkeeper






Biography of Cruyff

Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (Johan Cruijff) often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football trainer/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 trainer Rinus Michels.

Career

As a player

Cruijff played successively for Ajax, FC Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante UD and Feyenoord. 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 has been named as one of the best football players of his generation, alongside Garrincha, Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer, although he did not win a cup or tournament with his national team. As a Dutch international he played 48 matches, in which he scored 33 goals.

The highlights of his football career as a player include winning the European Cup three times (1971 - 3, with Ajax), the Ballon d'Or (European Player of the Year) thrice (1971, 1973 - 4), and leading the Netherlands to a runners-up medal in the 1974 World Cup. In 1978 he refused to participate in the World Cup that was held in Argentina because it had suffered a military coup only two years earlier; the Netherlands emerged runners-up again that year.

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 however, 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.

As a manager

Johan Cruijff has managed two football clubs after his active career as a player, Ajax and Barcelona. As a manager he led Ajax to victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup (1987) and Barça to four league titles (1991 - 4), as well as FC Barcelona's first European Cup (1992). This record made him the most successful coach in FC Barcelona's history. 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.

Cruijff used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day prior to undergoing double heart bypass surgery in 1991, after which he quit 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.

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

His son, Jordi Cruyff, has played for teams such as FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Alaves. Cruijff was his manager at Barça.

Quotes

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: Cruyffism). Some examples:

"Italians can not beat us, but we can certainly 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.")
"A ball is an essential part of the game" ("Een bal is een essentieel onderdeel van het spel") On the Teamgeist football for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
"Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster." ("Snelheid wordt vaak verward met inzicht. Als ik eerder ga lopen dan de rest, lijk ik sneller.")
"Before I make a mistake, I DO NOT 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 score one more goal than your opponent" ("Om te winnen moet je 1 goal 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, then 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 his most famous saying: "I don't want to be a thief of my own wallet" ("Ik wil geen dief van mijn eigen portemonnee zijn") - on moving from Ajax Amsterdam to Barcelona.
His influence on the Spanish language has been subject of the documentary En un momento dado released in 2004.

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
"Maradona was absolutely the best player I have ever played with - but Johan Cruyff was the best player I ever played against" -- Mario Kempes
"I think along with Johan Cruyff, Pele is the best player I have ever played against, and with Diego Maradona, the best players I have ever seen." -- Alan Ball
"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." -- Eric Cantona

Carreer by football-player

48 presences with Netherlands (33 gol), 33 presences by captain
2n place in World Cup Germany 74 and best player

Teams

1964 - 1973: Ajax
1973 - 1978: FC Barcelona
1979 - Los Angeles Aztecs
1980 - 1981: Washington Diplomats
1981 - UD Levante
1981 - 1983: Ajax
1983 - 1984: Feyenoord

Successes with Team

1966: Netherland's League Winner
1967: Netherland's League Winner
1967: Netherland's League Winner
1968: Netherland's League Winner
1970: Netherland's League Winner
1970: Netherland's Cup Winner
1971: Champions League Winner
1972: Netherland's League Winner
1972: Netherland's Cup Winner
1972: Intercontinental's Cup Winner
1972: Champions League Winner
1973: Netherland's League Winner
1973: European Supercup Winner
1973: Champions League Winner
1974: Spain's League Winner
1978: Spains' Cup Winner
1982: Netherland's League Winner
1983: Netherland's Cup Winner
1983: Netherland's League Winner
1984: Netherland's League Winner
1984: Netherland's League Winner

Other
1971: Golden Ball
1973: Golden Ball
1974: Golden Ball

Successes by Trainer:
1986: Netherland's Cup Winner
1987: Cup Winners Cup
1987: Netherland's Cup Winner
1989: Cup Winners Cup
1990: Spains' Cup Winner
1991: Spain's League Winner
1992: Champions League Winner
1992: Spain's League Winner
1992: Spain's League Winner
1993: Spain's League Winner
1994: Spain's League Winner