Johan Cruyff

The ‘Total Footballer’ started his legendary career with the Ajax youth club in 1959 at the age of 12 years old. His mother worked as a cleaner on the grounds and was able to convince the coaches to admit her son into their youth development program. By age 17 Hendrik Johannes Cruijff was starting for the struggling Ajax senior club and his winning presence would immediately be felt.

‘Total Football’ is the concept of having a team’s 10 field players trained, skilled and educated at each others positions. This causes marking nightmares for opposing teams during a match as defenders can, at anytime, become forwards and strikers can drop back to defend. No player was a better model for this style of football than Johan Cruyff. His skill set was perfect and he, in fact, exceeded the needs of this role both physically and mentally. His vision of the game, precision passing and ball control merited him the nickname “Pythagorus in boots”. Cruyff always seemed to educate and elevate players’ abilities, both as a player and later as a coach.

In his first run with Ajax, Cruyff had an immediate impact by scoring in his very first match against Groningen. Over the next seven years, he would bring them to a level of success that they had never seen before. From 1964 – 1973 Cruyff led Ajax to six Eredivisie titles, four KNVB Cup victories, three European Cup championships, two UEFA Super Cup trophies and one Intercontinental Cup title. During this time Cruyff would play in 240 matches, score 190 goals and be named the European Footballer of the year twice. Despite all of these individual and team achievements, Cruyff felt slighted when the club elected teammate Piet Keizer as captain instead of himself. In 1974 Cruyff left for Barcelona and his winning presence was immediately felt at Camp Nou. He would guide Barca to the top of La Liga that season and the top of Copa del Rey in 1978. He would also add another European Footballer of the year in 1974. Then, at the age of 31, he retired from football only to resurface a year later in the United States – first playing for the NASL Los Angeles Aztecs in 1980 and then the Washington Diplomats in 1981. Returning back to Europe, Cruyff signed with Spanish side Levante for 10 matches before returning back to Ajax and guiding them to Eredivisie titles in 1982 and 1983 as well as KNVB Cup champions in 1983. Then after a shocking transfer to Eredivisie rivals Feyenoord, Cruyff mirrored his accomplishments by bring the Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup championship in 1984.

Internationally, Cruyff and his Dutch side were never able to achieve the success that their talent promised. The closest they came was in the 1974 World Cup when they lost to Germany in the finals 2-1. Despite his side displaying great moments of Total Football, they could never finish atop any international tournament.

As a manager, Cruyff spent time with former clubs Ajax and FC Barcelona finding similar success with both clubs as he did as a player. With Ajax he managed them to two KNVB Cup titles and a UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1987. With Barca, Cruyff won La Liga four times and titles each with the Copa del Rey, UEFA Cup Winners Cup, the European Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Despite rumors that he may make a coaching return to Ajax, Johann dispelled those in 2008 because of a difference of professional views with management. Instead he chooses to live in Barcelona with his wife and three children.

Personal information

Senior career*

National team