Johan Cruyff

Go Back

About

Johan is regarded by most in the game as one of the greatest football players of all time, and perhaps the best exponent of the famous style of playing called ‘Total Football‘.

Johan Cruyff was born in Amsterdam in 1947 close to the Ajax ground. His mother worked as a cleaner at the club and it was she who persuaded the coaches to admit her son to their youth development system at the age of 12.

It was the English coach Vic Buckingham who recommended that the club sign him on a contract and Cruyff made his senior début when he was 17. Naturally, he scored. Two years later he was playing for Holland, grabbing the last-minute equaliser in his first match – a 2-2 draw against Hungary.

Cruyff was one of a number of youngsters who emerged with Ajax of Amsterdam in the late Sixties and came to dominate European and world football in the early Seventies. He won a hat-trick of European Cups with Ajax, the World Clubs’ Cup and was three times European Footballer of the Year.

He won the Ballon d’Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini, Marco van Basten and Lionel Messi.

In 1999, Cruyff was voted European Player of the Century in an election held by the IFFHS, and came second behind Pelé in their World Player of the Century poll.

Proving his legendary status within the game, Cruyff is one of the only players ever to have a particular skill named after him– the ‘Cruyff Turn’.

One of the most respected figures in football, Johan Cryuff is in demand as an after dinner speaker for his football anecdotes and memories.

Planning a Campaign, Shoot or Event?

QUICK ENQUIRY