Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, born 25th April 1947. Amsterdam. A moment etched into the mind, not only of his mother, but of the 20th century. Known as Johann Cruyff to the world, the initials J.C. are apt; this man changed football forever.
Quite possibly the most lethal player to ever kick a ball, he wasn’t just sheer talent. He had charm, he had a temper, mood swings and morals. In a word: Genius. Michel Platini said ”He was my idol. He is the best player I have seen in my lifetime.”
In his career Cruyff not only changed football, he also won the European player of the year three times, the European Cup three times in a row, nine Dutch titles, six Dutch Cups, the World Club Cup, the Spanish title and a Spanish Cup. And that’s not including his managerial titles: two Dutch Cups, two Cup Winners Cups, four Spanish titles, a Spanish Cup, the Uefa Super Cup and of course, the European Cup. And all the time he was a heavy smoker who would throw a fit at every opportunity. He left Ajax for Barcalona because, despite being the best player on Earth and the national captain, his team mates decided to vote for someone other than him as captain. His reaction was to tell them where they could shove their armband and off he went for $2 million. What did he do? He told the Barca faithful he couldn’t bring himself to join Real Madrid because of its links to Franco.After becoming an instant hero at Barca, he proceeded to win them their first title for 14 years and a love affair was begun that lasts to this day. The family still live in the city.
But Cruyff had other qualities that just made even more special. Being sponsored by Puma, he tore off a stripe from the Dutch national shirt made by Adidas, thus creating the famous two stripe shirt that summed him up. In reality, he couldn’t give a toss. when it came to the 1978 World Cup in Argentina he, having made sure the team qualified, promptly retired. Why? Because he couldn’t bring himself to play in a country that two years previously had been taken over by a military junta and used murder and torture on its own citizens. This man gave up an almost certain World Cup winners medal (they ended up losing in the final to the hosts), after missing out in the final four years before, because of his morals.
Yes he was selfish, yes he was a moody so and so, but without Johann Cruyff the world would be a far poorer place. A man that invented the ‘Cruyff turn’ and could destroy teams in an instant, a man that despite being surrounded by some of the greatest players ever (not just at Ajax and Holland, but worldwide) still set himself apart by being, quite simply, incredible. He was the first player to be sent off for his country and received a year long ban, the people didn’t care. This is a player who routinely stuck two fingers up at the world, the people didn’t batter an eyelid. Before Cruyff Dutch football was still emerging from its amateur status, afterwards it would be a world leader and dominate for years to come.
Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMZmJ464Nss
Johann Cruyff, we salute you!
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Filed under: Legends - Roll of Honour | Tagged: 1974 world cup, 1978 world cup, ajax, barcalona, dutch, dutch football, european cup, football, greatest footballers, holland, johann cruyff, netherlands, number 14, total football
