From technical wizardry as a player to tactical mastery in management, Hendrik Johannes Cruyff was the leading exponent in Total Football and is regarded as one of the most complete strikers in World Cup history.
Cruyff began an illustrious club career in football by joining the Ajax youth system on his 10th birthday. He was a multi-talented sportsman and could turn his hand to practically any game involving a ball, showing a high degree of skill as a catcher in Baseball. Cruyff turned his attention away from baseball in order to enhance his exceptional football ability and his decision was quickly rewarded when he made his first team debut two years later. His first appearance for Ajax in 1964 came in the Erevidisie against GVAV, losing 3-1 but scoring the team’s only goal. The 1964 season was desperately disappointing for Ajax, who finished in their lowest ever position in the league, but the following year saw a ripening 18-year-old take Dutch football by storm. Cruyff scored 25 goals in 23 games and Ajax won the title; the beginning of a golden era for player and club. In the following season, Cruyff enjoyed his first “double”, helping his team to retain the Eredivisie and winning the KNVB Cup, ending the season as the league’s leading goalscorer with 33. Soon enough, European football was taking note as the exuberant youngster won a third successive league title and was crowned Dutch player of the year for a second successive time.
The Dutch star was living his boyhood dream at Ajax but it soon became apparent that clubs outside of Holland were queuing up for his signature. In May 1969, with three Player of the Year awards to his name, Cruyff played in his first European Cup final against Milan. Ajax were defeated 4-1 but doors were opening for the mercury-heeled striker. Interest continued to escalate as he went on to secure another double-winning season but in the summer of 1970 Cruyff suffered a long-term groin injury. In his absence from the squad, his number nine shirt had been handed to Gerrie Muhren and, upon his return, Cruyff wore number 14, which he adopted permanently at club at international level. The 1970-71 season became one of his most decorated, scoring six goals in a single game, winning European and Dutch player of the year awards and beating Panathinaikos in the European Cup final. Cruyff silence transfer speculation by signing a seven-year deal with Ajax.
Despite committing himself to his boyhood club, Cruyff would only last two more years in Holland but they would be the most memorable seasons of his career. A second European Cup triumph saw Cruyff pull apart final-opponents Internazionale and score both goals in an historic 2-0 victory; it was the coronation of Total Football and the demise of Italian defending. Cruyff also scored in Ajax’s 3-2 victory in the KNVB Cup final against ADO Den Haag and again became top scorer in the league with 25 goals as Ajax were crowned champions. Finally, Cruyff added an Intercontinental Cup, Super Cup and a third European Cup to his trophy cabinet before signing a world-record breaking contract with Spanish giants Barcelona.
In the summer of 1973, Cruyff arrived at the Nou Camp for a staggering fee of $2million and quickly endeared himself to Catalonia by naming his son Jordi. In his first season in Spain, the Dutchman helped Barcelona to their first La Liga since 1960, trouncing rivals Real Madrid 5-0 along the way. With Cruyff’s craft, speed and exceptional vision, Barca developed a sense of invincibility. Many would argue Cruyff played his greatest football at the Nou Camp and certainly one of his most iconic goals was scored there. As a cross came in at neck-height and looked to be travelling beyond the far post, the Dutchman leapt through the air, twisted his body and retrieved the ball with an exquisite back-heel, kicking the ball past Atletico Madrid’s Miguel Reina. Barcelona couldn’t offer Cruyff the selection of silverware in which he had basked at Ajax, however, his talents dazzled alongside the biggest names in football and his injection of Total Football smoothly evolved into Catalonian Tika Taka, which he would perfect when he returned as manager in 1988.
On the international stage, Cruyff was the face of Dutch sport and the leading exponent of the ‘Total Football’ football philosophy. He played at centre forward but dropped deep to confuse his markers and frequently wandered out to the wing, where he used his extraordinary acceleration and footwork to devastating effect. The world had never before seen a striker play with such freedom. Johan Cruyff’s aloofness was not only exhibited through his playing style; he was sent off in his second international appearance and returned after a year’s suspension wearing the no.14 shirt; numbers outside of 1-11 were highly uncommon at the time. Additionally, he would remove the third black stripe from his sleeve due to his sponsorship deal, as Puma clashed with Holland’s kit provider Adidas.
The Dutch Team of ’74 will always be regarded as the greatest side never to win the World Cup, and Cruyff the greatest player. Holland has mastered ‘Total Football’ and swept aside Argentina, East Germany and Brazil on their road to the final, where they faced none other than West Germany. In the first minute of the final, Holland were awarded a penalty when Cruyff was fouled by Uli Hoeneß in the area. The Netherlands had made 13 passes without reply from the kick-off before their star man was hacked down and the Germans hadn’t yet touched the ball when Johan Neeskens converted from the spot for 1-0. Despite a highly promising start, the Dutch went on to lose 2-1 to Beckenbauer’s comeback kings and were denied of the trophy many believed their football had deserved. The tournament had extracted the very best from Cruyff, using his turn majestically to perplex the greatest defenders in the game and scoring the winning goals against Brazil and Argentina. However, three years later, after guiding Holland through World Cup qualification, he retired from international football.
Those who argue great players don’t make great managers should be referred to Johan Cruyff. He began his managerial career at the club where it had all started for him, Ajax, implementing his favoured formation upon a young side and coaching them to a European Winners’ Cup in 1987. His system of three mobile defenders and a holding midfielder was so successful that Ajax won the Champions League in 1995 using his formation – his legacy as coach reigned on. In 1988, Cruyff moved to Barcelona, following the pattern of his playing days, and brought in players such as Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman and Michael Laudrup, who are all high-regarded tacticians in management today. With these players flourishing in his coaching system, Cruyff won four La Liga titles and a European Cup in eight highly successful years in Spain.
One of the finest managers of his generation and one of the most complete forwards in football history, Johan Cruyff will forever remain the greatest player never to win the World Cup.
By Sam Fletcher
