Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff was a Dutch footballer and football manager, who is often regarded as one of the finest footballers and managers that has ever been involved with the game. He had a profound effect on modern football throughout his career as a top level professional. Cruyff started off his career at Ajax and by the time he was 18 he had become the star of the country’s biggest team. He led Ajax to numerous league titles and three straight European Cups to emerge as the best footballer in the world in late 1960s and early 1970s. Subsequently, he went to Barcelona and helped transform the mentality at the club by bringing a free flowing style to their football. As a manager, Cruyff managed both Ajax and Barcelona, but it was at the latter club that he had the biggest influence as he won them plenty of trophies, built a team that was the envy of the world and last but certainly not the least, created a philosophy of football that helped the club become one of the powerhouses of modern football. Johan Cruyff will surely be remembered as one of the greatest footballers and football tacticians to have ever graced the game.