“it was that we did not play at all.”
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Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, internationally known as Johan Cruyff, was a Dutch professional football player and manager. Regarded as one of the greatest players in history and as the greatest Dutch footballer ever, he won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974. Cruyff was a proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, developed by Rinus Michels, both as a player and a manager. Because of the far-reaching impact of his playing style and his coaching ideas, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern football, and he is also regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.
sports · Dutch footballer and manager (1947–2016) · association football player · association football coach · coach · also Johan Cruyff, Hendrik Johannes Cruyff, Cruyff
Born 25 April 1947 · Died 24 March 2016 · Q17163
116 published statements · 0 followers
Updated 1 day agoSee & hear
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202632 items
“I told players not to be afraid: ‘If you have an idea, good: try it. And if it goes wrong, don’t worry.’”
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“We showed in Holland and in Barcelona that when you start with values, these always come back.”
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“In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender.”
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“Winning is an important thing, but to have your own style, to have people copy you, to admire you, that is the greatest gift.”
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“I suspect, that if journalists really understood football they wouldn't be journalists.”
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“Every trainer talks about movement, about running a lot. I say don't run so much. Football is a game you play with your brain.”
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“If I wanted you to understand it, I would have explained it better.”
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“Playing football is very simple but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.”
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“full of uninteresting banalities”
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“Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1,000 times. Anyone can do that by practising. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.”
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“The biggest test for a coach at a team like Barça is the strength to make decisions and the ability to talk to the press, because they don”
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“Johan was the better player, but I am a world champion”
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“We will win the championship.”
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Tribuna.com: 30 years ago, Sao Paulo were the best club in the world: they struggled for money but beat Cruyff's Barcelona and Capello's Milan
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tribuna.com: Hace 30 años, el Sao Paulo era el mejor club del mundo: sufrían por dinero pero vencieron al Barcelona de Cruyff y al Milan de Capello
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Goal: Netherlands, Xavi the new head coach: "I am a son of Dutch football, thanks to Cruyff and Michels"
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bet365 - Apuestas deportivas en la red: Atrapados en la sombra de Johan Cruyff - bet365
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DAZN: Xavi Hernández abraza el legado de Johan Cruyff en su llegada a la selección de Países Bajos: “Soy un hijo del fútbol neerlandés”
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El Periódico: El eclipse desde dentro del estadio Johan Cruyff: "Por estar mirándolo nos perdimos un gol del Barça"
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LiveScore: Cruyff's son returns to his roots: Xavi appointed Netherlands coach until 2030
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Goal: The son of Cruyff returns to his roots: Xavi appointed Netherlands manager on a long contract
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Goal: El hijo de Cruyff vuelve a sus raíces: Xavi, seleccionador de los Países Bajos hasta 2030
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Yahoo: El hijo de Cruyff vuelve a sus raíces: Xavi, seleccionador de los Países Bajos con un contrato de larga duración
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World in Sport: Ajax 1970–73: Cruyff and the Rise of Total Football
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MARCA: El gran reto de Flick en Barcelona que lo situaría a la altura de Guardiola y Cruyff
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Crónica Global: Luis Enrique no descansa en su afán contra el Real Madrid: se olvida del Ajax de Cruyff y el Bayern de Beckenbauer
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Mshale: RESPECT For JOHAN CRUYFF (Ajax Vs Zwolle 2016) Emilio Gay (sSgUoQMTjc)
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Mshale: 100% Best New Possession Game Formation 🤩💥 EFootball 2026 || Johan Cruyff Link-Up Play Formation Sudan (IMPvl3ieCz)
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Infobae: Hansi Flick, con Pep Guardiola y Johan Cruyff en la mira
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Mshale: Cruyff Interview: 1994 World Cup And The Widsom Of Eating Quickly Benfica (CP68Gcz8iC)
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Goal: Ajax starter under pressure due to grand plan by Jordi Cruyff
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20211 item
Andy Bollen published the book Fierce Genius, in which he also blended a biography with a description of Cruyff's last year as a player for Feyenoord Rotterdam
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20192 items
The Dutch author Auke Kok published a biography of Cruyff
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Arthur van den Boogaard published the book Het laatste seizoen about Cruyff's final year at Feyenoord and a retrospective of his playing career
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20181 item
Or 2022 at the official launch in Eindhoven
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20164 items
Won Gold Medal of the City of Barcelona for Cultural, Scientific, Civic or Sports Merit (2016).
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Died 2016-03-24.
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Cruyff's posthumously autobiography My Turn was published, and he also ironically alludes to his legendary trick move
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“Não posso ser um novo Pelé. Ele é o único que ultrapassa os limites da lógica.”
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20142 items
Barca played a more direct, faster game that quickly bridged the midfield to serve the attacking line (Messi, Suarez, Neymar) made up of dribbling individualists
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The Catalan-language documentary film L'últim partit: 40 anys de Johan Cruyff a Catalunya was directed by Jordi Marcos, celebrating 40 years since Johan Cruyff signed for Barcelona in August 1973
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20132 items
Awarded UEFA President's Award (2013).
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Cruyff was recognised with the UEFA President's Award
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20112 items
Criticised the fact that FC Barcelona no longer respected previously valid principles
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However, due to the fact that he did not pay as much attention to the defensive aspect of the game as he did to the offensive side
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20103 items
Cruyff entered in the FICTS "Hall of Fame" and was awarded with "Excellence Guirlande D'Honneur"
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The asteroid (minor planet) 14282 Cruijff (2097 P-L) was named after him
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Cruyff was presented the FIFA Order of Merit (highest honour awarded by FIFA) for his contribution to football
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20092 items
Joined Catalonia in 2009.
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Ended this activity, as the coverage by the broadcaster had, in his view, become too negative
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20081 item
Cruyff stated to the journalist Antoni Bassas in Catalunya Ràdio that he and his family were subject to a kidnap attempt in Barcelona a year before the tournament, and that this had caused his retirement
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20072 items
Marcel Rözer published a dual biography of Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer, Beckenbauer & Cruijff: De Keizer en de Verlosser
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Cruyff's favourite pupil, Pep Guardiola, took over as coach of Barcelona's B team
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20061 item
Awarded Saint George's Cross (2006).
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20051 item
Vehemently criticised José Mourinho in a column, who at Chelsea promoted a purely result-oriented defensive style, which, according to Cruyff, made him sick
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20042 items
A public poll in the Netherlands to determine the greatest Dutchman ("De Grootste Nederlander") named Cruyff the 6th-greatest Dutchman of all time, with Cruyff finishing above Rembrandt (9th) and Vincent van Gogh (10th)
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The documentary film Johan Cruijff – En un momento dado ("Johan Cruijff – At Any Given Moment") was made by Ramon Gieling and charts the years Cruyff spent at Barcelona, the club where he had the most profound effect in
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20032 items
Joan Laporta ran for his successor, among other things, on the promise of renewing the club according to Cruyff's principles
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The Johan Cruyff Foundation has provided over 200 Cruyff Courts in 22 countries, including Israel, Malaysia, Japan, United States, and Mexico, for children of all backgrounds to play street football together
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20022 items
Cruyff was promoted to Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau
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The Dutch national team was unable to qualify for the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea
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19993 items
Cruyff was voted European Player of the Century in an election held by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, and came second behind Pelé in their World Player of the Century poll
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Joan Laporta finally founded the interest group "Elefant Blau
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Which was soon expanded under the umbrella organisation Johan Cruyff Institute and extended to several countries
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19971 item
Which is intended to help disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs
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19962 items
Remained an advisor to both Ajax and Barcelona
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“s replacement. Nevertheless, Cruyff continued working on rebuilding the team. He promoted the young Iván de la Peña from the B team to the first team. He also convinced midfielder Luis Enrique to transfer from Real Madrid to FC Barcelona. On 15 May 1996, the local derby against Espanyol Barcelona ended in a draw, practically ending any hopes of winning a title. On 18 May 1996, Vice President Joan Gaspart confronted Cruyff in the locker room. Upon greeting Gaspart, Cruyff called him”
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19941 item
Began producing spoken short film columns for Filmnet, a pay-TV channel
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19901 item
Most Dutch players wanted Cruyff as their coach for the upcoming World Cup tournament in Italy
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19882 items
FC Barcelona was going through major turbulence both on and off the field
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Joined Barcelona in 1988.
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19871 item
Took part in a TV documentary (Schijnbewegingen), in which he met Rudi van Dantzig, the artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet, and they both exchanged ideas about their professions
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19861 item
The team reached the final of the European Cup (in Seville) but lost in a penalty shootout to the clear underdog Steaua Bucharest, which went down in the club's and fans' history as the "Seville trauma"
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19841 item
Cruyff became a highly successful manager of Ajax and Barcelona, winning the 1987 European Cup Winners' Cup at Ajax, and four La Liga titles and one European Cup at Barcelona
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19833 items
Played for Feyenoord Rotterdam (1983–1984) — 33 appearances, 11 goals.
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Joined Feyenoord in 1983.
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Where he won the double (Eredivisie and KNVB Cup) in his first and only season at the club
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19822 items
Received his own show on Dutch television, where he commented in a column-like manner on current football topics and described his ideas about the game to the viewers
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Scored a famous goal against Helmond Sport
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19814 items
Joined Ajax in 1981.
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Played for Levante UD (1981–1981) — 10 appearances, 2 goals.
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Played for AFC Ajax (1981–1983) — 36 appearances, 14 goals.
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Joined Levante in 1981.
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19801 item
Played for Washington Diplomats (1980–1981) — 30 appearances, 12 goals.
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19791 item
Played for Los Angeles Aztecs (1979–1979) — 23 appearances, 13 goals.
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19783 items
Barcelona defeated Las Palmas 3–1, to win the Copa del Rey
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There had been a lack of an overarching sporting philosophy, and the playing style had varied with each coach in charge
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A bank made public that Grupeco Holding could no longer meet its obligations
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19771 item
Awarded Don Balón Award (1977).
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19763 items
Cruyff also managed the Catalonia football team from 2009 to 2013, leading the team to a victory over Argentina in his debut match
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The Italian-language documentary film Il profeta del gol was directed by Sandro Ciotti
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Career landmark: Participated in UEFA Euro 1976 (tournament / event).
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19742 items
Career landmark: Participated in 1974 FIFA World Cup (tournament / event).
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Cruyff was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau
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19736 items
Awarded Dutch Sportsman of the year (1973).
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With a comfortable 1–0 win against Juventus
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Nevertheless valued his passing accuracy
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Winning the La Liga title in 1973–74, the club's first in 14 years, and the Copa del Rey once
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Played for FC Barcelona (1973–1978) — 143 appearances, 48 goals.
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Played for Catalonia national football team (1973–1976) — 2 appearances, 0 goals.
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19721 item
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1971-1972).
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19712 items
Won Ballon d'Or (1971).
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1972 and 1973 worked it to their advantage: "We discussed space the whole time
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19701 item
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1969-1970).
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19682 items
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1967-1968).
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Awarded Dutch Footballer of the Year (1968).
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19671 item
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1966-1967).
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19662 items
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1965-1966).
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Played for Netherlands national association football team (1966–1977) — 48 appearances, 33 goals.
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19642 items
Where he won six Eredivisie titles, three European Cups, and one Intercontinental Cup
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Played for AFC Ajax (1964–1973) — 240 appearances, 190 goals.
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19471 item
Born 1947-04-25.
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19201 item
“Three Uniteds, two Citys and a Wanderers, Hotspur, Villa, Rovers, Albion, North End, Town, Athletic, County and Park Avenue.”
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19002 items
Awarded Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
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Studied at Sunday school.
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