Throughout his playing career, Johan Cruyff was synonymous with 'Total Football', a style of play crafted by the coach at Ajax with Cruyff the on-field conductor. His legacy lives on in teams across Europe, from Barcelona to Bayern Munich. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, Cruyff won the Ballon d'Or three times, and led the Dutch national team to the final of the 1974 World Cup, receiving the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.
Cruyff started his career at Ajax, where he won eight national titles and three European Cups. In 1973 he moved to Barcelona for a world record transfer fee, winning La Liga in his first season and being named European Footballer of the Year. After retiring in 1984, Cruyff became a highly successful manager of Ajax and then Barcelona. In 1999 Cruyff was voted European Player of the Century, and came second behind Pelé in the World Player of the Century poll.
Considered to be one of the most…
