Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff, born on April 25, 1947, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is a retired professional footballer and coach, considered one of the most influential figures in football history. Cruyff started his professional career with Ajax Amsterdam in 1964, where he won multiple titles, including eight Eredivisie titles and three European Cups.

Cruyff was known for his technical skills, speed, and vision on the field. He won three Ballon d'Or titles and made significant contributions to 'Total Football', a tactical theory in football. Off the field, Cruyff is also recognized for his contributions to football management and his philanthropy.

Ajax Amsterdam

• Youth and Early Career: Cruyff was born and raised in Amsterdam and joined Ajax's youth academy. He made his first-team debut for Ajax in 1964.

FC Barcelona

• Transfer to Barcelona: Cruyff signed with FC Barcelona in 1973. At Barcelona, he won the La Liga title in his first season and was named Ballon d'Or winner in the same year.

Ajax Amsterdam (second stint)

• Return to Ajax: In 1981, Cruyff returned to Ajax and won two more Eredivisie titles before moving to Feyenoord.

Feyenoord

• Later Career: In 1983, Cruyff signed with Feyenoord and won both the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup in his first season. He retired from professional football in 1984.

Netherlands National Team

• Debut: Made his debut for Netherlands in 1966.

Achievements:

• World Cup: Runner-up in 1974. Cruyff was a key figure in the Dutch team's 'Total Football' style of play.
• Cruyff is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the Netherlands national team.

• Position: Played primarily as an attacking midfielder, but also excelled as a forward.
• Skills: Known for his technical skills, creativity, speed, and goal-scoring ability. Cruyff was celebrated for his versatility and vision on the field.

• Family: Cruyff was married to Danny Coster. They had three children together.
• Philanthropy: After retiring from professional football, Cruyff devoted himself to promoting football and sports in general through the Johan Cruyff Foundation.

• Johan Cruyff is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and innovative playing style but also for his influence on the game as a coach and football philosopher. His contributions to the 'Total Football' theory have had a lasting impact on football tactics worldwide.

Ballon d'Or:

• Won three times (1971, 1973, 1974)

Most Goals for Ajax:

• Over 240 goals

Most Appearances for Netherlands:

• 48 appearances

Books

• Winner, D. (2012) Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Cruyff, J. (2016) My Turn: The Autobiography. London: Macmillan.

Websites

• Ajax: Information about Johan Cruyff’s career and achievements. Available at: https://www.ajax.nl
• FC Barcelona: Details about Cruyff’s career at FC Barcelona. Available at: https://www.fcbarcelona.com
• FIFA: Updates and records of Cruyff in FIFA competitions. Available at: https://www.fifa.com

Articles

• BBC Sport: Johan Cruyff: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/
• The Guardian: Johan Cruyff’s career highlights and records. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/johan-cruyff

Interviews and Documentaries

• En un momento dado (2004): Directed by Ramón Gieling. This documentary provides a detailed look at Cruyff’s life and career, featuring interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues.