Great Footballers - Johan Cryuff

Name: Johan Cryuff


Born: 25th April, 1947


Nationality: Dutch


Playing Position: Attacking Midfielder/Striker

Clubs: Ajax, Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante, Feynoord



Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Johan Cryuff was born on the 25th April, 1947 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He won the European Footballer of the Year award  in 1971, 1973 and 1974 a record he shares with fellow legends Michael Platini and Marco Van Basten. He was voted as European Player of the Century in an election held by  the (IFFHS) International Federation of Football History & Statistics and was second only to Pelé in another poll held by the (IFFHS) titled the World Player of the Century.

Cruyuff played in the position of attacking midfielder and could also play as a striker. He is perhaps the famous exponent of the Total Football style of play which was developed by Cryuff's coach at Ajax, Rinus Michels. In this system a player who moves out of position is replaced by another from his team so that the team can keep their organisational structure. With total football any player can peform the roles of defender, midfielder or striker competently. In this system Cryuff played as a centre foward but he could also drop deep in midfield to confuse his markers or move on the wing suddenly. Johan's strengths were his his technical ability, speed, acceleration, dribbling and vision with his vision being his greatest strength. Cryuff also invented a move known as the Cryuff Turn seen here.

He won eight Eredivisie (which is the highest football league in The Netherlands) titles with Ajax and one with Feyenoord football club in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1982, 1983 and 1984  respectively. He also won three European Cups which is now known as the UEFA Champions League with Ajax  in 1971, 1972, 1973 and a La Liga title while playing for Barcelona FC in 1974. When he retired he managed Ajax and Barcelona winning a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup  in 1987 and four consecutive La Liga titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1989 and a European Cup in 1992 with Barcelona FC.  On November 2nd 2009 he was named as the head coach of the Catalonia national football team. For his great accomplishments as a player and manager he was given the title of honorary president of FC Barcelona on the Friday 26th March, 2010.

 Cryuff became married to Danny Coster on the 2nd of December 1968 and the couple are still together to this day. The Cryuff's have three children together: Chantal, Susila and Jordi.