Perhaps Johan Cruyff’s greatest legacy is in the fact that his ultimate goal was to play enjoyable and entertaining football both as a player and coach. To him it was imperative that the players and fans alike have a good time. Mention the heartbreak of 1974 and he would still point to the fact that it was the brilliant Dutch that played spellbinding and innovative football and it is that which left a lasting impression and is fondly remembered.
This he felt was reward enough for their endeavor, despite the obvious disappointment of not taking home the biggest prize in world football. Last week the entire footballing world was shocked by the sad news of the passing away of Johan Cruyff. For the Dutch, not only was he their best footballer ever but a national icon who helped shape Dutch culture and put Holland on the map. It is a very big loss for them and indeed for the rest of the footballing world. For Barcelona he was the Messiah, not once but twice. In his first spell he broke the monopoly of Real Madrid and helped strengthen the position of Catalonia during a tense political period in Spain. In his second, he did nothing less than totally (no pun intended) shape the way modern football is played today.
The all-conquering Barcelona that we have had the pleasure of watching in the past decade have one man to thank. The principles Johan Cruyff laid there during his managerial reign are still followed, and to great success at that. In a world where a player’s physical attributes were given a lot of importance, he believed that skill and intelligence were of higher value. He had a vision of how football should be played and did not shy away from giving the players, that he felt were right, the opportunity and the stage to excel. La Masia, which is revered around the world for producing the best talents in football, can trace its success to Cruyff and the systems he established there. He insisted on all the age groups playing a similar style of football and asked for the inclusion of players regardless of size and strength. These ideals can be seen implemented even today and also copied in various academies around the world.
For an aspiring coach such as myself there is an unbelievable amount of insight to be gained from Cruyff’s methods. As a player he helped implement the total football strategy to great effect on the pitch in the wondrous Ajax years from 1971-73 and with the national team in 1974. Cruyff was a thinker, in his own words, and used his brain to pick opponents apart. As a manager he established the great Barcelona “Dream Team” and established a form of free-flowing, possession-based style of football that eventually evolved into what is known as the Tiki-Taka. His focus on understanding and creating space, maintaining possession and quick retrieval of the ball helped establish the base for much of how modern football is played today. The list of players and coaches influenced by Cruyff who have gone on to make a name for themselves in the game is expansive and illustrious.
If i were to pick out my favorite quote of Johan Cruyff it would be this – Football is a simple game but playing simple football is hardest thing there is. To the man who gave us the famous Cruyff Turn, we are truly indebted for having shown us the way football should be played. To see his principles encouraged in football and academies everywhere is a great testimony to the man. The influence of any one man on the beautiful game is unparalleled and he continues to encourage and inspire coaches and managers around the world.
Indeed, Johan Cruyff will live on in our hearts and minds.
