Johan Cruijff

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{{Football manager infobox | playername = Johan Cruijff | image = Image:Johan5.jpg | fullname = Hendrik Johannes Cruijff | nickname = Pythagorus in boots | dateofbirth = April 25, 1947 | cityofbirth = Amsterdam | countryofbirth = Netherlands | currentclub = Retired | position = "Hole" | youthyears = 1959-1964 | youthclubs = Ajax Amsterdam | years = 1964-73
1973-78
1979-79
1980+1981
1980-81
1981-83
1983-84 | clubs = Ajax Amsterdam
FC Barcelona
Los Angeles Aztecs
Washington Diplomats
Levante
Ajax Amsterdam
Feyenoord | caps(goals) = 229 (190)
143 (48)
27 (14)
32 (12)
10 (2)
36 (14)
33 (11) | nationalyears = 1966-78 | nationalteam = Netherlands | nationalcaps(goals) = 48 (33) | manageryears = 1986-1988
1988-1996 | managerclubs = AFC Ajax
FC Barcelona }} Template:Redirect5 Hendrik Johannes Cruijff (in English often 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.

Career

As a player

Cruijff played successively for Ajax, FC Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante UD 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, Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer, 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. Image:Johan Cruyff in Barcelona.jpg

• 1964 - 1973: Ajax (Netherlands)
• 1973 - 1978: FC Barcelona (Spain)
• 1979 - Los Angeles Aztecs (USA)
• 1980 - 1981: Washington Diplomats (USA)
• 1981 - Levante (Spain)
• 1981 - 1983: Ajax (Netherlands)
• 1983 - 1984: Feyenoord (Netherlands)

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 Template:Wc. 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.

As a Manager

Image:Cruyff-trainer-barca.jpg Johan Cruijff has managed 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 manager at Barça.

Quotes

By Cruijff himself

During his career Cruijff also became a national phenomenon on account of his comments. His expressions are considered as phrases of such simple, stark logic that it either qualifies as sheer brilliance or ultimate cheesiness. It has become cult in the Netherlands, where his form of speech was dubbed "Cruijffiaans" (eng: Cruijffism). Some examples:

• "Italians can not beat us, but we can certainly lose against them" ("Italianen kunnen niet van ons winnen, maar we kunnen wel van ze verliezen.")
• "Without the ball, you can't win" ("Zonder de bal kun je niet winnen.")
• "Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster." ("Snelheid wordt vaak verward met inzicht. Als ik eerder ga lopen dan de rest, lijk ik sneller.")
• "Before I make a mistake, I DO NOT make that mistake" ("Voordat ik een fout maak, maak ik die fout niet.")
• "Every disadvantage has its advantage" ("Elk nadeel heeft z'n voordeel.")
• "To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent" ("Om te winnen moet je 1 goal meer scoren dan je tegenstander")
• I'm not religious. In spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before they enter the pitch. If it works all matches must therefore end in a draw. (Ik geloof niet. In spanje slaan alle 22 spelers een kruisje voordat ze het veld opkomen, als het werkt, zal het dus altijd een gelijkspel worden.)
• and his most famous saying: "Coincidence is logical" ("Toeval is logisch.")

His influence on the Spanish language has been subject of the documentary En un momento dado released in 2004.

About Cruijff

• "He was the better player, but I won the World Cup" -- Franz Beckenbauer

On December 2, 1968, Johan Cruijff married Danny Coster. The wedding reception was at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel with all Ajax players present. Music was from Jose Marcello Big Band with a performance of the Dutch/American singer Ronnie Tober.

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