Johan Cruyff

golden_blunder

Site admin. Manchester United fan
Staff
Joined
Jun 1, 2000
Messages
124,411
Location
Dublin, Ireland
Excellent article on him in 442 this month. Just how good was he?



in a nutshell
  • changed the fortunes of Ajax (they were a small Amsterdam team when he started with them),
  • along with Michels, reinvented how football should be played with the idea that anyone can pass and move, including the goalkeeper!
  • Helped turn Barca into achievers again
  • Left a lasting legacy to Ajax, Barca, Holland, and football in general
  • Gave us Jordi ;)

Theres not many other players who can say that they have gone on to have that kind of impact on the world of football
 
A small Amsterdam team when he started with them?? Don't think so - ok, they hadn't done much internationally before he came along, but they were not and never have been a small team.
 
Great video.

Loving that penalty at 4 minutes in!
 
Don't some people in continental Europe regard him as the best ever player?
 
Alex said:
Don't some people in continental Europe regard him as the best ever player?
Click to expand...

Yep and I think he's up there with Maradona for my money (I never saw Pele in full games, only a few highlights so I can't judge him).
 
He was a contemporary of Best. They were often compared but Cruyff had more impact on the European game. He was the marquee player and on-field orchestrator in the Ajax team that won 3 European cups in a row and came to be identified with total football, an idea pioneered by his club and national teams.

For me his absence was the difference between Holland winning and losing the 1978 world cup final. Also, Holland were the arguably the better team in the 1974 final. He was Johan 1 and Neeskens was Johan 2.

He had a Cantona-type presence and you expected him to produce something special to turn a game.

He and Ajax first came to British attention when Ajax trashed Liverpool 5-1 in a European Cup match, one of my favourite games. :)
 
And I agree that Best should be there too - shame that he never got to prove it in a World cup.
 
Unbelievably, he played in the States for a few seasons in the NASL. He even played a season for my hometown team the Washington Diplomats - I was very young, but from what little I remember - yes, he was that good.
 
Cruyff was a master, a great player in an excellent, bright and well coached
Ajax and Dutch side...... and because of their "total voetball" systems, he
literally did pop-up anywhere on the pitch, as a creator or finisher , and
as you will know, he even had his own "turn" named after him.... One of the
all time greats.... and like most cloggie players, he had an opinion aswell !!!!
 
FranklyVulgar said:
He was a total footballer. You could have played him anywhere on the park, he would attack teams from anywhere and could do everything, two footed, head, tackles, passing, goals. Just everything.....
Click to expand...

So kind of an older version of Ronaldo then... ;)

Seriously though, one of the very best and if they had won that WC final in 1974, might have gone down as highly rated as Maradona.
 
Cal? said:
So kind of an older version of Ronaldo then... ;)

Seriously though, one of the very best and if they had won that WC final in 1974, might have gone down as highly rated as Maradona.
Click to expand...

He's not as good as Thierry Henry though.

heh heh heh
 
there is a rumour that best nutmegged him for the craic during a friendly/international match! dribbled across the pitch to cruyff and stuck it through his legs to take the piss.......

anyone know if this is actually true?
 
With his managerial and playing success would he be the greatest person to be involved in Football, of all time?
 
Great great player - one of the all times


For me though not up there with Best, Pele, Maradona

I put him in with Platini Zidane Ronaldo de Stefano on the 2nd tier

Actually was also a bit of a cvnt and helped ruin Holland's WC chances on more than one occasion a right divisive brat for the management especially in Argentina in 78
 
You must log in or register to reply here.