Cruijff (sometimes spelled Cruyff; born April
25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football trainer/coach and
former star player, regarded by some as the all-time great 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.
Cruijff played successively for Ajax, FC Barcelona, Los Angeles
Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante Union Deportiva 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 George Best, Franz Beckenbauer and Pelé, 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 before the cup; the Netherlands
emerged runners-up again that year.
At the age of 32 Johan 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 Capital City to
play for the Washington Diplomats, he played the whole 1980
campaign for Washington, leaving soon after the start of the '81
season.
Johan Cruijff has trained 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 only
European Cup (1992). This record made him the most successful
coach in FC Barcelona's history. His open support gave candidate
Joan Laporta the 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
forever 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 Cruijff, has played for teams such as FC
Barcelona, Manchester United and Alaves. Cruijff was his trainer
at Barça. |
